Connecticut Mosque Sues Over Zoning Refusal

The Hour reports that Norwalk, Connecticut's Al-Madany Islamic Center last week filed a suit in federal district court charging that its 1st Amendment free exercise rights, its rights under RLUIPA and under Connecticut's Religious Freedom Act were violated when the Norwalk Zoning Commission rejected its plans for a new mosque and multipurpose hall. The lawsuit claims that the usual factors that lead to zoning approval were discounted in the face of strong discriminatory opposition to the zoning application.