Lawsuit challenging the discriminatory and burdensome zoning system in Bensalem, PA, as well as the township’s denial of their variance application to build the first mosque in Bensalem.
Court/Assoc.: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Attorneys/Firms: Ryan Tack-Hooper of CAIR-Philadelphia and Roman P. Storzer and Robert Greene of Storzer & Greene, P.L.L.C.
The Philadelphia Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Philadelphia) and Storzer & Greene, P.L.L.C. filed a federal lawsuit today on behalf of a Muslim congregation called Bensalem Masjid challenging the discriminatory and burdensome zoning system in Bensalem, PA, as well as the township’s denial of their variance application to build the first mosque in Bensalem. (Masjid is the Arabic word for mosque.)
Bensalem has more than 200 Muslim families who currently pray in a fire hall because the township has no mosque.
“Our community has spent five years simply trying to find an appropriate place to come together to pray,” said Dr. Imtiaz Chaudhry, one of the members of Bensalem Masjid. “All we want is the same freedom to practice our religion that other faith groups have in Bensalem.”
Press Release
- Bensalem Masjid Files Civil Rights Lawsuit Against Bensalem Township Over Mosque Refusal – (12/8/14)
Legal Documents
- Complaint – (12/8/14)