Justice Dept. suing Bernards for discrimination over mosque
The U.S. Justice Department is suing Bernards Township for alleged discrimination in regard to a mosque. The issue dates back to 2011 when the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge filed to build a mosque
News 12 Staff
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Nov 23, 2016, 5:20 AM
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Updated 2,716 days ago
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The U.S. Justice Department is suing Bernards Township for alleged discrimination in regard to a mosque.
The issue dates back to 2011 when the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge filed to build a mosque on land it already owns.
According to the Department of Justice, the township violated religious land laws when it denied zoning approval to the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge.
The construction of the mosque has been a heated topic in the area. Hundreds of people turned out to speak out on the proposal when meetings were held.
The Justice department said the Islamic Society had a right to build on the land it owns and the zoning at the time would have permitted the construction as a house of worship.
It was their religious right to be able to build and worship.
