Basking Ridge Mosque Construction Is Underway

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — It’s been two years since the legal battle was settled between Bernards Township and the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge over the 4,250-square-foot mosque. Here’s an update on how construction is progressing.

Currently site work is progressing at the location at 124 Church St., a historic section of the township. Contractors are on site everyday preparing the groundwork for the foundation to be laid out, according to Mohammad Ali Chaudry, ISBR president.

"We are hoping site work will be completed by the summer and then the rest of the work for the structure can begin," Chaudry said.

"There is a lot involved in the project," Chaudry said. "We are hoping the whole project will be completed sometime next year."

Additionally, Chaudry said the ISBR is continuing to collect donations to help cover costs associated with the construction.

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 ISBR website isbri.org 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, 2017. The agreement allows the ISBR to build their mosque and for the township to 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

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