Praying for Relief

WHEN

June 27, 2013
6:00 – 8:30 p.m.

WHERE

Arnold & Porter LLP
399 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10022-4690

RSVP

Click here to RSVP or email [email protected]

ABOUT

In recent years, Muslim communities around the country have faced particular challenges and opposition to their efforts to establish places to pray. Local examples include the Park 51 mosque in New York City and the Al Falah Center in Bridgewater, New Jersey. While some communities have faced only vocal opposition, others have faced legal barriers imposed by local governments that deny necessary permits or amend their land use and zoning regulations in an effort to prevent the establishment of mosques in their communities.

Such measures can violate the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), which was enacted to protect churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and other religious institutions and assemblies from discrimination and undue interference with religious exercise through application of zoning and land use laws, thereby solidifying the basic constitutional protections for religious freedom and against religious discrimination provided under the Free Exercise Clause, the Free Speech Clause and the Equal Protection Clause.

Come join our panel for an engaging discussion of how communities seeking relief from the courts under RLUIPA raise critical questions on the meaning of religious freedom today, the protection of minority religions, and the role of the courts in that dialogue.

Moderated by:
Ally Hack, Esq., The Association of Muslim American Lawyers

Speakers:
Bruce R. Kelly, Arnold & Porter LLP, counsel to the Al Falah Center

Lawrence H. Fogelman, Assistant United States Attorney, United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York

Patricia L. Gatling, Commissioner and Chair, NYC Commission
on Human Rights