Source: Bayonne will soon get its first mosque: Here’s how it all unfolded | NJ.com
BAYONNE — Ten years after first renting out the basement of the St. Henry’s Church school for prayer services, the Bayonne Muslim community will finally get have their own place of worship on the east side of town.
It’s been a long road for the Bayonne Muslims, whose controversial application to build a community center and mosque was denied last year amid ardent resistance from a segment of the town’s population.
But after filing a federal lawsuit against the city, which the group settled Wednesday for $400,000, the application now only needs to be publicly approved at a hearing in late February.
From the purchase of the property to Wednesday news of the settlement, here’s a timeline of the controversial mosque saga:
September 2015: Bayonne Muslims purchase property on East 24th Street
The group finalized the purchase of the property in September 2015, and applied for zoning consideration.
Jan. 14, 2016: Residents protest outside City Hall
…
March 6, 2017: Zoning Board votes down mosque application
May 25, 2017: City hit with federal lawsuit
May 31, 2017: U.S. Justice Department opens investigation into the matter
Jan. 31, 2018: Bayonne Muslims, city settle lawsuit for $400K
Per the settlement, the Bayonne Muslims will be permitted to establish their community center on the site after a public meeting is held within 30 days of the agreement being struck. State law requires a revised application and full public hearing before a settlement agreement between the Zoning Board and the applicant can be ratified with a public vote.
The meeting should be held either in late February or early March.
And what if the people reject it as they have already? To follow the saga from our archives, go here.
NJ.com’s Corey W. McDonald either didn’t research this mosque carefully or intentionally didn’t publish details on the Muslims behind the mosque and the legal jihad they waged.
And why do Muslims across the U.S. purchase properties in residential areas with the full intent of using them as mosques? It’s a tactic we refer to as the “Zoning Jihad.” They are aided and abetted by the federal government.
Comments