Lilburn reached a final agreement with the Department of Justice Monday, settling a federal discrimination case related to a zoning dispute with a local Muslim congregation.
The DOJ on Friday filed a complaint against Lilburn, formally alleging the city violated federal law by twice rejecting Dar-E-Abbas' requests for rezoning to build a mosque. Under pressure from the DOJ, the Lilburn City Council approved Dar-E-Abbas' request to expand its worship center, on Aug. 16.
In a statement released Monday, city officials denied that they discriminated against Dar-E-Abbas: "The City views this action as punitive and the allegations in the Complaint are misleading. ... In agreeing to the Department’s demands, the City will be able to conserve our limited resources and focus our attention on efficiently delivering services to our residents."
About the Author