Mosque Zoning in Illinois: How Federal Law Has Protected Muslim InstitutionsDenied Zoning Approvals from Local Governments

with Kevin Vodak

Newer Muslim institutions seeking to establish mosques and educational centers throughout the U.S. in the post-9/11 era have faced numerous barriers insecuring zoning approvals from municipal and county governments. From neighbors’ objections ranging from traffic and parking concerns to outrightderogatory remarks against Islam, Muslim institutions have been subjected to intense scrutiny by local governments when presenting their plans for newdevelopments.

Kevin Vodak, Litigation Director at the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Chicago Office (CAIR-Chicago), will discuss his efforts to enforce the Religious Land Use & Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) to ensure Muslim institutions in Illinois are protected from zoning decisions infringing on their rights to religious freedom. He will discuss how Muslim institutions have been victorious in this area, the complex nature of these cases, and how court decisions have assisted in combatting Islamophobia.

Presented by the International Human Rights Clinic.