Islamic Society Sues City Over Rejection Of Mosque Proposal
Authored by Tom Gantert via The Epoch Times,
The Islamic Society of Tulsa has filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and four individual city council members after the city denied its request to build a mosque and Islamic community center.
The suit, which was filed on Aug. 3, alleges the denial violated the U.S. Constitution, the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, and Oklahoma law by discriminating against Muslims.
The city of Broken Arrow said in an email to The Epoch Times that it does not comment on lawsuits. The city acknowledged on July 28 that the U.S. Department of Justice had started an investigation into the matter.
“The City Council and Administration are fully engaged with the DOJ in its investigation,” the city stated, adding it would have no further comment.
The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division is investigating whether Broken Arrow violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act after denying the rezoning application for the Islamic Society of Tulsa.
According to the complaint, the Islamic Society of Tulsa bought about 15 acres of land in Broken Arrow in 2014 with the intention of building a mosque, a community center, and a small commercial development.
City planning staff concluded the proposal complied with the city’s comprehensive plan and recommended approval. The Broken Arrow Planning Commission also voted to recommend approval after a lengthy public hearing.
The lawsuit claims the proposal was rejected by the City Council after “a wave of bigoted opposition from members of the community and local politicians.”
Despite recommendations from city staff and the Planning Commission, the City Council voted 4–1 on Jan. 12 to deny both the rezoning request and the conditional use permit.
The lawsuit further alleges the city approved similar rezoning and permitting requests for Christian churches and commercial developments while allowing those applicants to address traffic and engineering issues later in the approval process.
The complaint seeks a court order allowing the project to proceed, a declaration that the city’s actions were unlawful, and monetary damages including attorneys’ fees.
It also notes the DOJ’s investigation into whether the city violated federal religious land-use protections.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is asking the Trump administration to halt the DOJ investigation.
In a letter to President Donald Trump and acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, Drummond called the investigation “federal overreach” and said land-use decisions should be left to state and local officials.
Drummond also asked the DOJ to withdraw requests for records involving private citizens, require senior-level approval for any further investigative steps, and coordinate with the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office before taking additional action against Oklahoma municipalities.
- • The Islamic Society of Tulsa is suing Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, after the City Council rejected a mosque and community center proposal.
- • The Department of Justice has launched an investigation into whether the city violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.
- • Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has requested the Trump administration intervene to stop what he calls federal overreach.
The dispute arose after the City Council voted 4 to 1 to deny rezoning and permits despite recommendations for approval from city planning staff. The Islamic Society claims the city applied stricter standards to them than it does to Christian churches.
Christian Perspective
Local communities have a natural right to protect their social fabric and cultural heritage from developments that do not align with their foundational values. Forcing the establishment of non-Christian institutions through federal litigation undermines the sovereignty of local Christian populations. The city council members acted as protectors of their community's traditional character.
Implications
If the DOJ succeeds, it will strip local municipalities of their ability to govern based on the specific cultural and religious needs of their residents. This sets a precedent where federal mandates override the will of the people to maintain a cohesive Christian society. It threatens the ability of Americans to preserve their way of life through local zoning.
Broader Trends
This conflict illustrates the ongoing struggle between federal globalist agencies and state-led efforts to preserve national and local identity. It reflects a pattern of using civil rights laws to facilitate the expansion of foreign religious influences within the American heartland. The tension highlights the pushback against the erosion of traditional American norms.
Takeaway
Americans must support strong state leaders like Gentner Drummond who defend local autonomy against federal intrusion. Protecting the demographic and cultural integrity of our towns is a necessary defense of our heritage. We must prioritize the preservation of our Christian community standards over federal mandates.
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