DOJ backs Sayreville mosque zoning challenge under RLUIPA “Equal Terms”

The U.S. Department of Justice (Civil Rights Division) filed a Statement of Interest on July 13, 2026, backing Masjid Sadar, Inc. and Shameer Properties’ lawsuit challenging how Sayreville, New Jersey regulates a proposed “Masjid Sadar Community Center” mosque.

DOJ asked the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey to consider a preliminary injunction while the case is pending—meaning the court is weighing whether immediate relief is warranted, not issuing a final decision on the merits.

What RLUIPA “Equal Terms” is designed to do

RLUIPA’s Equal Terms provision targets zoning rules that treat religious and nonreligious land uses unequally at the permitting stage “without a regulatory justification.” DOJ says Sayreville’s zoning code likely fails that requirement.

DOJ’s “Equal Terms” comparison #1: conditional-use discretion vs. “as of right”

First, DOJ argues Sayreville requires houses of worship to obtain discretionary conditional-use permits, while comparable secular assemblies are permitted as of right.

DOJ’s comparison #2: bulk/dimensional standards that are allegedly more onerous

Second, DOJ says houses of worship face more stringent lot-size and dimensional requirements than nonreligious assembly uses, again without what DOJ describes as a reason for the extra burden.

How the fight connects to the local process

The dispute is not abstract. The federal complaint traces back to Sayreville Planning Board proceedings over the Masjid Sadar Community Center/House of Worship, with borough hearing materials showing review at a public hearing dated May 7, 2025.

What to watch next

The next key step is the district court’s handling of the preliminary-injunction motion, including whether the plaintiffs are likely to succeed on their Equal Terms theory and whether harm would be irreparable without immediate relief.

If the court grants (or denies) preliminary relief, the case would move through further procedural steps—keeping the focus on whether religious facilities are being treated differently from comparable secular assembly uses at the zoning-permit stage.

Sources

• U.S. Department of Justice (Civil Rights Division) case page: Masjid Sadar v. Borough of Sayreville (updates Jul. 15, 2026; Statement of Interest filed Jul. 13, 2026)
• Sayreville Planning Board hearing materials (PDF) for Masjid Sadar Community Center, May 7, 2025
• Court docket overview (Justia) for Masjid Sadar v. Borough of Sayreville, 3:25-cv-17831