Muslim congregation to sue Lilburn over mosque, attorney says

By Shane Blatt

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The attorney for a local Muslim congregation said he will file federal and state lawsuits on Thursday against the Lilburn City Council after it rejected plans for a giant mosque in a city neighborhood, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has learned.

Doug Dillard, who represents the congregation of Dar-E-Abbas, said he will appeal under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act and four constitutional amendments in lawsuits against the Gwinnett County municipality.

The move would come almost a month after Lilburn city leaders denied a rezoning request by Dar-E-Abbas for a 20,000-square-foot mosque, cemetery and gymnasium on about 8 acres at U.S. 29 and Hood Road. The congregation, which has worshipped there for more than a decade, owns 1.4 acres of the land and wanted to buy an additional 6.5 acres to accommodate the city's growing Muslim population.

"We think the city clearly discriminated against these people, particularly in light of the fact they've worshipped on this land 12 to 13 years," Dillard said Wednesday.

Both the Planning Commission, a recommending body, and the City Council voted against the congregation's proposal before packed crowds in Lawrenceville. In its 4-0 decision Nov. 18, the City Council said the plans would pose traffic and noise problems, create spot zoning and run afoul of Lilburn's land-use plan.

The four council members and the mayor are named in the lawsuits, Dillard said.