老澳门开奖结果

HORN LAKE, Miss. 鈥� Horn Lake officials unlawfully denied zoning approval for a proposed mosque due to anti-Muslim bias, according to a federal lawsuit filed today by the 老澳门开奖结果, the 老澳门开奖结果 of Mississippi, and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP. Just before holding a vote on the mosque鈥檚 site plan, one Horn Lake Alderman ominously , 鈥渋f you let them build it, they will come鈥� and encouraged his fellow board members to 鈥渟top it before it gets here.鈥�

The zoning proceedings held by Horn Lake鈥檚 Board of Aldermen, the city鈥檚 governing body and planning commission, were filled with anti-Muslim sentiment. After rejecting the mosque鈥檚 site plan, an Alderman the decision by claiming that the plaintiffs鈥� 鈥渞eligion says they can lie or do anything to the Jews or gentiles because we鈥檙e not Muslims.鈥�

Alderman Charlie Roberts subsequently that the city had 鈥渟tepped over the line鈥� and had only rejected the site plan 鈥渂ecause they鈥檙e Muslims.鈥�

The lawsuit, brought on behalf of the mosque and the two local religious leaders who founded it, alleges that the city鈥檚 actions violated the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, which provides heightened protections for houses of worship in zoning proceedings, and the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The complaint asks the federal district court to issue an injunction allowing construction of the mosque. 鈥淭here are 13 churches in Horn Lake and 132 churches in DeSoto County, but not one mosque,鈥� explained plaintiff Riyadh Elkhayyat, co-founder of the Abraham House of God mosque.

Noting that he must travel to Tennessee with his wife and six children to attend prayer services, he added, 鈥淭he Abraham House of God would give my family and other Muslims within the community a local house of worship where we can gather to pray communally, observe Islamic holidays, educate our children in our faith, and form a religious congregation. I was dismayed by the anti-Muslim reaction to the proposed mosque. We should be able to practice our faith freely and without discrimination, just like everyone else.鈥�

Plaintiff Maher Abuirshaid, who co-founded the Abraham House of God with Mr. Elkhayyat, agreed: 鈥淎 local mosque is critical for my family and the Muslim community in DeSoto County to practice our religion. I hope the city does the right thing by reversing this discriminatory decision.鈥�

鈥淭he city鈥檚 decision was clearly motivated by anti-Muslim bigotry,鈥� said 老澳门开奖结果 of Mississippi Legal Director Josh Tom. 鈥淧eople of every faith should have a safe place to practice their religion, and we intend to make sure that鈥檚 the case in Horn Lake and DeSoto County.鈥�

Heather Weaver, senior staff attorney for the 老澳门开奖结果 Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief, said, 鈥淭he freedom to worship is one of our most fundamental rights. By discriminating against our clients simply because they are Muslim, Horn Lake officials violated that right, and they must be held accountable.鈥�

鈥淭he Muslims of DeSoto County and Northern Mississippi have the right to practice their religion and join together in a local place of worship,鈥� said Jonathan Youngwood, Global Co-Chair of the Litigation Practice at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP. 鈥淚t is unfortunate that litigation is necessary 鈥� but it is important that Mr. Elkhayyat, Mr. Abuirshaid, and their community be permitted to build the Abraham House of God.鈥�