The town of Oyster Bay in Long Island has decided to pay $3.95 million and approved the expansion of the Masjid Albaki Mosque. This comes a few weeks after officials admitted to having fabricated a story involving a nonexistent grandmother in an attempt to block the project’s progress in court.
This settlement, now filed in federal court, wraps up a contentious legal dispute between Long Island Muslims and the affluent Oyster Bay community. The situation caught the attention of the Department of Justice, which revealed that town officials had misused zoning laws to thwart the mosque’s development.
As part of the settlement, the town has agreed to approve the plans for the mosque’s expansion. This includes demolishing two single-story buildings to create a larger worship space, and revoking the 2022 Parking Act that significantly increased parking space requirements for places of worship. Additionally, it allocates around $4 million for damages and legal fees.
The town board is required to finalize this agreement within ten days.
“We are thankful to have moved past this and look forward to collaborating with our neighbors,” said Mohn Qureshi, the plaintiff in the case.
“Our upcoming mosque will be a welcoming space for everyone, irrespective of their faith.” The mosque’s application was initially submitted in 2018 but has faced numerous delays, according to the attorney representing the house of worship.
During the court proceedings, officials from Oyster Bay acknowledged that their key witness—who was purportedly a grandmother trapped in a worshipper’s vehicle—was actually a fictional character.
“This grandmother isn’t real,” Attorney Peter Vogel mentioned previously. “She’s just a product of the town’s imagination.”
Earlier this year, the Justice Department backed the mosque, cautioning that the Oyster Bay parking regulations were less favorable than those applied to other local establishments like theaters and museums.
The agreement includes provisions aimed at alleviating some of the town’s safety concerns, such as promoting legal parking on nearby Long Island Railroad Roads and assisting worshippers in navigating busy streets during prayer times.
“Today marks a new beginning,” Qureshi, a volunteer at Masjid Al-Baqi, remarked. “We aim to create a gathering place rooted in friendship and respect for all.”
Following months of troubling revelations, the decision to settle came just weeks after the Post uncovered the town’s fabricated story. Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino expressed hope that this resolution would allow for the community to address any significant planning issues and move forward together.
“We will always respect the rights of all faith communities here in Oyster Bay,” he added.
