$1 Million Needed To Build Basking Ridge Mosque

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — The Islamic Society of Basking Ridge is looking to raise $1 million to help build a 4,250-square-foot mosque, following a four-year legal battle with the township.

The mosque will be built at 124 Church Street, a historic section of the township.

"We are ready to build the mosque and need your financial support. Any amount you wish to donate to this long and hard fought campaign will be much appreciated," said Mohammad Ali Chaudry, ISBR president on the fundraising page.

ISBR is a Section 501 C (3) tax exempt religious organization (Tax ID: 27-4808552 ) and receipts for donations will be sent to donors for tax records.

Donations can be made on the fundraising page HERE or by mailing a check to ISBR, P.O. Box 173, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920. (Checks should be made payable to the "Islamic Society of Basking Ridge" or "ISBR" with a memo: ISBR Mosque Fund).

Bernards Township settled lawsuits with the ISBR and and United States Department of Justice on May 23. The agreement allows the ISBR to build their mosque and also must pay $3.25 million as part of the settlement agreements.

• See Related: Mosque Will Be Built In Basking Ridge, Town Must Pay $3.25M

The lawsuit by the The Islamic Society of Basking Ridge was filed in March 2016 after the Bernards Township Planning Board voted down the application to build an Islamic mosque on Church Street.

• See Related: Basking Ridge Votes No To Islamic Mosque

Since the ISBR's suit, the United States Justice Department also filed a lawsuit in November 2016 against Bernards Township alleging discrimination after the township's Planning Board decision.

The settlement agreement also resolves allegations that at the time the ISBR’s application was pending, the township revised its zoning code to unreasonably limit any house of worship from building in the township.

• See Related: Islamic Society Files Suit Against Basking Ridge Over Denial of Mosque
• See Related: NJDOJ Files Lawsuit Against Bernards Twp. Over Islamic Mosque Denial

For more information on the project visit the ISBR Facebook page or contact Chaudry at machaudry@gmail.com or 908-672-1798.

(Image via ISBR Mosque Fund Website: Rendering of the proposed mosque.)

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