The U.S. Department of Justice has ordered the city of Meriden, Connecticut, to work with an Islamic group to help them open a mosque. That’s after the city planning commission denied the Omar Islamic Center’s plan to move into a donated commercial building in an industrial zone.
The DOJ says in the settlement the city violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, a civil rights law.
The city has four months to change zoning and allow for special exceptions for places of worship — the same it does for places like museums or libraries.
A spokesperson for the city of Meriden says because a judge has not yet ruled on the settlement, it cannot comment on pending litigation. The Islamic Center did not immediately respond to requests for comment.