Community Corner
US Attorney To Investigate Bernards Over Mosque Denial
The U.S. District Attorney has opened an investigation into Bernards Township's denial of an Islamic mosque
Basking Ridge, NJ -- A lawsuit filed by the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge against the township has gotten the attention of the U.S. Department of Justice.
"The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey is investigating whether Bernards Township violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) by denying the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge’s application to build a mosque," Will Skaggs, Deputy Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed to Patch.
Mayor Carol Bianchi issued a statement saying the township will cooperate with the Department of Justice's investigation of the allegations.
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"I know our Planning Board members and they are honest and ethical. I trust they made their decisions based solely on land use considerations," Bianchi told Patch.
The ISBR filed the suit on Thursday last week against the Township claiming their decision was actually a culmination of anti-Islamic attitudes in the community.
Find out what's happening in Basking Ridgefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Bernards Township's Planning Board denied the ISBR's application in December 2015 listing a number of reasons including parking, traffic, drainage.
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