DOJ Files Suits in 3 States Against Communities for Blocking Construction of Mosques

The Department of Justice has filed lawsuits in three states since the start of the year against communities that blocked construction of mosques, The Daily Caller reported.

The suits are against Culpepper County in Virginia, Bernards Township in New Jersey, and the township of Bensalem in Pennsylvania.

The DOJ's action says the communities are violating the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, a federal law that protects individuals, houses of worship, and other religious institutions from discrimination in zoning and landmarking laws.

In the case of Culpepper County, the DOJ contends that by refusing the Islamic Center of Culpepper a "pump and haul" permit for the removal of sewage, the country is placing an overly burdensome restriction that blocks construction, the DC reported.

Meanwhile, the county has issued 26 such permits since 1992 with this being the first denial of a permit, according to The Daily Caller.

In the case of Bernards Township, the DOJ claims it discriminated against the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge by requiring more parking and more fire safety standards, the DC reported.

And in Bensalem, the DOJ is going after the town's refusal to grant a zoning variance to a mosque there.

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