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Linklaters Secures Resolution of Federal Civil Rights Litigation as Site Plans Approved for Long Island Mosque
Press Contact
Rachel Baum
Senior PR & Communications Advisor
+1 212 9039123
rachel.baum@linklaters.com
News and Deals
Press Contact
Rachel Baum
Senior PR & Communications Advisor
+1 212 9039123
rachel.baum@linklaters.com
Linklaters is proud to announce that its U.S. Litigation, Arbitrations & Investigations team has secured formal approval of site plans for a long-awaited mosque in Bethpage, New York, on behalf of Muslims on Long Island, Inc. (MOLI). The Town of Oyster Bay’s approval clears the way for MOLI to begin construction of a permanent house of worship for the local Muslim community and represents the final step in implementing a broader settlement that resolved MOLI’s federal civil rights litigation against the Town.
The site plan approval fulfills the central condition of the settlement reached in October, five days before trial was scheduled to begin. That settlement followed nine months of intensive litigation and more than six years during which MOLI sought municipal approval for its new mosque. In addition to providing for approval of the mosque’s site plans, the settlement required the Town to pay a substantial amount in attorneys’ fees and costs. The federal case filed in the Eastern District of New York brought claims under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, with support from the U.S. Department of Justice; the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution; and New York State laws guaranteeing the free exercise of religion, due process, and reasoned decision making by local governments.
This outcome was made possible by the extraordinary efforts of a dedicated team. The team was led by Litigation, Arbitration & Investigations Partners Muhammad Faridi and Adeel Mangi and Diana Conner, Counsel Julia Long, and Senior Associate Peter Vogel. The team also included Nadav Ben Zur, Sarah Hardtke, Kailyn LaPorte, Niraje Medley-Bacon, Ty Cadogan, and Matthew Gallot-Baker, with support from Project Assistant Sophie Balmagiya.
Muhammad said:
“We are thrilled that our clients can finally build the house of worship they have long envisioned for their community. This milestone reflects years of perseverance and faith, and it begins a new chapter rooted in understanding and inclusion.”
Diana said:
“This settlement represents an important moment for the Bethpage community. Our clients have always sought simply to worship and serve their neighbors, and now they can do so in a permanent home. Our clients look forward to a constructive relationship with the Town, grounded in mutual respect and a shared commitment to the community.”
Peter said:
“We are proud to have helped our clients secure their right to worship. We are fortunate to practice at a firm that permitted us to invest considerable resources in pro bono work. Our team plans to continue such work in the future.”
The team also benefited from the contributions of Dalia Elmelige, Shaun Carr, Jacob Chefitz, Emma Ellman-Golan, Gautam Rao, Yoni Schenker, Ben Seymour, and Jonah Wacholder, who previously worked on the case.