The Justice Department should put a stop to this. But it’s anybody’s guess which side the Trump Justice Department is on at this point.
“Outrageous Unconstitutional Intimidation of Private Citizens Who Opposed Mosque Project; Thomas More Law Center Steps In,” Thomas More Law Center, March 28, 2017:
ANN ARBOR, MI – If you speak out against building a mosque in your community, you may be slapped with a subpoena demanding all your personal documents, including emails, voicemails, text messages, and social media posts concerning Muslims, Islam, mosques, the Quran, Muslim worship or prayer services, wudu, imams, burkas, hijabs, Sharia, jihad, or anything else associated with or related to Muslims or Islam.
This was part of the harassment and intimidation experienced by scores of private citizens of the small New Jersey town, Bernards Township (also known as Basking Ridge), who spoke out at public hearings against a plan to build a disproportionately-sized mosque on a small piece of residential property. The mosque project, sponsored by the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge (“ISBR”) and its president, Mohammad Ali Chaudry, was denied by Township officials for not complying with local building ordinances.
On March 10, 2016, ISBR and Mohammad Ali Chaudry sued Bernards Township in federal court, claiming various violations of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. Shortly after, ISBR had coercive subpoenas served on private citizens whose only involvement was voicing concerns at public planning board meetings about whether the proposed mosque complied with local building ordinances.
The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey recently granted the Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, permission to represent, without charge, several of these citizens who desired to quash the coercive and abusive subpoenas. Westfield, New Jersey attorney Michael P. Hrycak is assisting the Law Center.
Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center, commented: “ISBR is setting a dangerous unconstitutional precedent by abusing a court process to chill and trample on the First Amendment Rights of private citizens whose only involvement was to speak out against the mosque at public hearings. Because the U.S. Supreme Court has held that speech at a public place on a matter of public concern is entitled to special protection, we will ask the Federal District Court to quash the subpoenas served on our clients as a misuse and abuse of the Court’s process.”
Lori Caratzola, described in the ISBR Complaint as a fervent and frequent objector to the mosque, was a prime target for ISBR’s personal attacks. She was personally mentioned over a dozen times in their Complaint. Yet she has remained steadfast in her opposition. Ms. Caratzola commented:
“Being served with a Federal Court Subpoena to turn over all my personal communications including voicemails, social media, emails, notes wherein I make any mention of anything having to do with Islam is an absolute violation of my First Amendment rights. I was a citizen exercising my right to attend public planning board meetings about a land use application that affected my community.”
She continued:
“Dr. Chaudry’s clear intent was to embarrass, strike fear, silence and cause financial harm to any citizen who dared oppose his nonconforming project. And if these subpoenas are allowed to stand, it will set a chilling precedent for all citizens who wish to exercise their Constitutionally protected right to free speech and to petition their government.
“I was named numerous times in the Complaint, yet as a non-party, I had no standing to challenge the lies and half-truths told about me. After the Complaint was filed, mainstream media picked up and repeated these lies and half-truths.”
Caratzola concluded:
“I have lost days, probably weeks, devoting time to trying to find counsel – only to find most attorneys are afraid of challenging an Islamic group in today’s political climate.”…
Cody Smith, another subpoenaed resident who opposed the Mosque, stated:
“The planning board did exactly what it should have done—set emotions aside and judge ISBR’s application solely on its merits and whether it complied with our local regulations. It’s unfortunate that Dr. Chaudry, the Township’s former mayor, has resorted to an all-out smear campaign and retaliation against residents who exercised their fundamental Constitutional rights of Free Speech in a public forum.”
Soon after ISBR’s lawsuit, DOJ investigators opened another coercive front by attempting to interview the private citizens who opposed the mosque. Eight months later, the DOJ filed its own lawsuit against the Township.
Astonishingly, the DOJ was dismissive of an apparent conflict of interest between Mohammad Ali Chaudry and the DOJ’s chief investigator, Caroline Sadlowski, both of whom were serving together on the Center for Religious and Cultural Conflicts board at Drew University.
abad says
#1: Having a mosque is NOT a right, it is a privilege.
#2. If a mosque in any way is found to be the location of non-Muslim hate speeches, it needs to be shut down and razed.
Period.
End of the story.
Dry Academy says
No mosque should ever be built anywhere ever. The construction of a mosque is not a “privilege”, it is a hate crime.
underbed cat says
Resolution 1618, restricting free political speech is right up the lynch alley and seems to promote sharia laws against fact- based free speech. Sharia and deception enable a very unusual type of religion which may not even qualify in the normal sense…
This is where they have the control. Islam protects itself against being exposed and known …..mosques are centers of misinformation for non-believers…since they follow, teach the Quran and sharia laws and deny it publically.
Katnis says
“The construction of a mosque is a hate crime.” I never thought about it that way. Thanks for the comment. Food for thought.
politicalqrm says
And how many muslims actually live in that town? Looking at the demographics, I would say not many.. Another case of the islamic culture moving in unwanted and intimidating the population amid cries of “racism”.
Donovan Nuera says
How was this Chandry dude even the mayor of the township previously? A real “bridge-builder, that guy. Just like Ratface Rauf and Ground Zero Mosque; hey let’s be nice to other religions by strongarming the abused citizens whose friends died horrible deaths at WTC into building mosque in the most insensitive place imaginable!!
david says
Why should a cult have a right to a tax free building wherein they may disparage the very people who fed and clothed them and paid their rents !
SweetOlBob says
david:
That’s the filthy muslim playbook !
Demand special rights and privileges because you’re just a poor, religious, group. And if you gt them, then
preach against and vilify the very people that helped you.
Churchill’s words are true ! “Islam in a person is like rabies in a dog”. (paraphrased, but true)
rubiconcrest says
The Islamic playbook in living color. How do you like it America? Hopefully, the plaintiff will lose this case and it will set a precedent to protect other people who Islam would silence. Thank you TM Law Center for taking up the case.
Henner720 says
In politics you lie to get what you want, unless the truth will get you there.both are ok. Nobody expect a politician not to twist the truth. But in this one they are lost. Islam peoples -mahounds- are utterly persistent and stubern. Another way to put it is the islam system is succesfull.they will ever never do what our politicians wishfull thinking dictates. Not in 10000 years the wont. So change the law, have the politicians lie saying we love you mahounds, while burning them down in reality.
davej says
And so begins: the Big Brother enforcement of Islamic persecution .by the American “Department of Justice”.
Bravo to Lori for fighting the good fight against religious Fascism. They are treading on her First Amendment and human rights with apparent impunity.
Typical Muslim bullying tactics and official endorsement.
johan elzinga says
I always thought things were better in America with freedom of speech, because you guys have the First Amendmend I haven’t even heard in my life of such a thing as handing over private conversations or a subpoena – what the f* is that? In the Netherlands we do not have a first amendment, but it is not illegal or even possible to insult a relegion, and a court can only ask you to hand over material as soon as there is serious evidence of illegal acts. One is not guilty here UNLESS proven guilty, and this proof must be there. I’m shocked, but I presume the current state of affairs is unconstitutional.
Carolyne says
Yes, It violates the First Amendment. But in the mean time, much money will be wasted to fight these barbarians and their house of satan. I am dismayed that the Department of Justice has entered this, although there are Obama holdovers there. Secretary Sessions should put a stop to this.
SweetOlBob says
As I said, Sessions needs to clear out these pro muslim bastards, post haste !
They are obviously hangovers from the Lynch and Obama America hating DOJ.
That was the department of “Just Us”, not Justice !
God's Warrior says
Big Brother, that is, Big Mullah has arrived in small town USA.
Before handing over the demanded data, they should demand to see the data of the people who arranged the subpoena. That should shut them up and withdraw the legal Jihad at their throats.
War is deceit.
Make them dhimmis now – living like trees amongst us, with no vote, no weapons, no welfare, and no say in government at any level. Their world domination scheme has proved most effective as they decimate societies at will – we need only to turn the strategy against them. We now have the power, and would never lose it.
JawsV says
I feel strongly that “mosque” should be spelled “mosk.” Not spelling it their way shows we don’t respect or have to respect their Jihad Centers. I always spell it “mosk.” It drives ’em nuts, like saying “Mohammedans” instead of “Mooslims.” All mosks are a blight on the landscape and a danger to all of us “Infidels.” I can’t believe we’re allowing these monstrosities to be built.
Henner720 says
To get your message out to a larger crowd, i suggest using unbelievers, instead of infidels.”infidels” – the word that is- is used substantialy by spencer, but it often percieved as ‘between people infidelity’ by them.
Wolf Woman says
The best and most precise word to call us is Kafir. It is what they use and from the Koran, and is defined as lower than human, lower even than an animal, filth (both spiritually and physically). Use the plural Kafirs instead of Kuffar; it drives them crazy.
I, by the way, am a proud Kafir.
Donovan Nuera says
Call them Mohammies….emphasize the “Hammies” part.
Call the Koran the Lamest Hooooliiee Bhoook of all time.
JawsV says
They also don’t like their war manual spelled with a K – Koran. So, K it is!
SweetOlBob says
It’s only me, but I always call the filthy thing “The Queeron”
Seems appropriate for a bunch of buggering Goat and Pony molesters.
Katnis says
How about a further misspelling with a lower case letter thrown in – moohammedans.
somehistory says
Praying that they win their fight against satan’s beast. More of us may have to do the same.
mortimer says
By performing these shenanigans against dissenting citizens, Muslims are showing they are not good neighbors and as a result, good will towards Muslims will evaporate the more ordinary citizens have dealings with Muslims. This will lead to real divisions and actual ghettoization. Ghettoization will lead to jihadist communities that will then actively attack the native, host communities and eventually the situation will be similar to a civil war.
Spain went through the gradual takeover of Spain by Islam and finally after hundreds of years of humiliation and suffering the Spaniards decided to expel all Muslims from Spain. This will eventually happen, I believe, in all Western countries. People will start to cry ‘Enough!’
Wellington says
Every mosque in America stands as an architectural insult to what made America great in the first place, freedom, respecting which Islam knows nothing about. Indeed, it is an enemy of freedom and no amount of Zuhdi Jassers or other of his type, never mind the clearly malevolent Muslims as those found in an organization like CAIR, can change this truth.
Bernards Township, where Basking Ridge is located, is in northern Somerset County and is a beautiful part of New Jersey which I have traveled through innumerable times on my way to my home state of Pennsylvania (and even more beautiful is the county directly to the west of Somerset, Hunterdon County). What a damn shame such a place has to be visually polluted by a mosque. And that’s what every mosque in America is——-a visual pollution and a symbol of a religious ideology which will destroy the basic freedoms outlined in the Constitution if only given the chance. Right now it is being given that chance. And this disgusts me, as much as Nazism or Marxism thriving in America would. .
Liz says
Well spoken.
Angemon says
“Every mosque in America stands as an architectural insult to what made America great in the first place, freedom, respecting which Islam knows nothing about.”
It is also a reminder of how hypocrite so-called “liberals” are. What is islamic architecture and themes if not the cultural theft of Persian architecture? Where are the “liberals” crying about “cultural appropriation”?
dumbledoresarmy says
Thomas More Centre could read ex-Muslim Sam Solomon’s “The Mosque Exposed”.
And get in touch with Mr Solomon and ask him to advise in the case.
Could be very illuminating, during the hearing, for all the Infidels present, to have an ex-Muslim explaining *exactly* what a mosque is – fundamentally, it’s a military base / fort/ arsenal/ jihad incitement and recruitment centre and focus of the Army of Islam.
somehistory says
I always refer to those hideous blights as barracks.
Henner720 says
It have come about, historicaly evolution wise, these places are there, but they are places for gangsters.But since lawmakers are rather unexperienxed in that, and the islam system as such succesfull obscuring to muslims there wrongdoings, the obladioblada goes on.
JawsV says
Mosks. “Barracks” is how Erdogan has described them in a famous quote. I also like “Jihad Centers” as that’s what they are.
boakai ngombu says
they have also been found to be armouries.
Paskudni says
Building a mosque any place is considered captured territory by mooslims.
Benedict says
Every western country allowing mosques facilitates their own destruction. Mosques are Trojan Camels where incitement to violence and terror is tacitly or openly promoted.
Henner720 says
In the outset a fair lawmaking, ideal in its intention. But reality check=》 islam is just to difficult to like.change the law. Make islam something else than religion. Or force the religion out seperately, and illigimate the political ideologic parts.fine them heavyly
Benedict says
Islam is religion as politics and politics as religion. These conjoined twins will both die if you venture to separate them.
Lis Worcester says
Here’s a book written just for situations like this: Mosques in America: A Guide to Accountable Permit Hearings and Continuing Citizen Oversight” by Karen Lugo, Esq. Constitutional Law Specialist RLUIPA Analyst and Litigator.
Good luck to anyone going through this legal battle.
https://www.amazon.com/Mosques-America-Accountable-Continuing-Oversight/dp/1540729176
david says
musloms shouldn’t have tax free places of worship because they are a cult , not a religion . If we call them a religion , then , we just lower ourselves . If it was up to moslims we would be living in the dark ages ,like they did before moving to civilisation .
Henner720 says
Islam arab style, is a dark negativ force selfcentered, impossible to like.when one of them is in the room, instant akwardness.
Benedict says
Of topic – or is it?
My iPad has been blocked from receiving updates with new articles from JW.
Could some commentator and IT specialist help me and explain what could be the problem?
Thank you.
balafama says
they’ve started censoring jihad watch in some european countries.
Benedict says
Thank you! Do you know which European countries and who “they” are?
Katnis says
really? i didn’t know.
Judy says
I BELIEVE IT USUALLY GETS WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER. LETS HOPE SO.\\
🙂
Khushi says
It is shocking that this should happen in USA – land of the free.
Sam says
This is REAL WAR. It is shame we are allowing these idiot muslims to continue their Jihad right in front of our eyes. No Mosque, no muslim, no Islam which means PEACE. Why cant we just see this simple truth?
Paskudni says
People in the west are just plain stupid period.
Judy says
WHY? ARE U SO MUCH SMARTER? EDUCATE US.
david says
The mohamid answer is that it all started when they hit back !The mohammidans have many words to describe how to lie to disbelievers. More politically correct citizens have to be politically BLUNT . We are letting islam use our Democracy against us . Beware the fifth column of mohamid !
Florida Jim says
muslims are very much like beheading Democrats they lie, they cheat, they steal and they behead eventually.Democrats and their gay friends will have a problem one day with muslims.Democrats want everyone to be allowed in america as long as they only vote Democratic. Every hellhole in America is made and maintained by democratic race-baiters all multi-millionaires looking down on their “stupid voters” to quote Barry Obama.Detroit, Chicago, Baltimore, Cleveland, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Omaha, LA, New York, Buffalo, Oakland, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and Seattle , Portland, Las Vegas,Minneapolis,Birmingham, Memphis, Indianapolis and the are more developing with every election. Thank the democrats for the hellholes and the debt.,
Walter Sieruk says
To oppose the construction of a mosque might appear a person, who doesn’t understand the Muslim way of thinking, as a very narrow , closed minded and even bigoted thing to do. Nevertheless, to a person who understand the insidious and scheming ways of the stealth jihad for Islam.
As the following short essay explains. The construction of the many mosques in both Europe and America not only means that more and more Muslims are entering those two continents and likewise more and more people in America and Europe are now being proselytized to Islam. This may be disturbing enough. In addition, this mass construction of mosques on America and Europe have still a further meaning which has been explained by a former Muslim who is now a Christian,Dr. Daniel Shayesteh, in his book ISLAM THE HOUSE I LEFT BEHIND for in page 99 it informs the reader that “The mosque is vital for establishing Muslims as sovereign over non-Muslims in a non-Islamic society or country. Building a mosque in a non-Islamic society or country symbolizes Islam’s claim over that society or country, even with a non-Muslim majority.”
Raja says
Walter, Thanks for the information. Information for the political class/elite.Islam is no doubt nasty, hegemonic, dominating(in a very rude way) and always in combat mode for war (war mongering in evry possible way)
May your information help spread the knowledge about one of the evils of the world.
Rev Donald Spitz says
Muslims should live in Muslim countries and stop murdering Christians and Jews.
Rob says
Most of those “Muslim” countries (like Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, etc.) once had Christian or Jewish majorities. Christianity grew in Europe and the Americas ONLY because it had not yet been successfully attacked by Islamic forces. But the enemy wised up – stealth jihad, using our institutions against us, is more successful than outright, physical war. Islamists have proven than if they slowly infiltrate government agencies, educational institutions and mass media then they can silence dissent and slowly strangle the kafir; we’ve seen it in action in all European countries and now in Canada and the U.S. I suspect that it is also happening in Central America and South America but no one is paying attention.
Raja says
Rob, I couldn’t agree any less. Good post.
DFD says
Well, well, well; I begin to understand Trump holding hands with sharia-May
762x51FMJ says
Hey another food joke…
Whats the difference between a Muscleman and a Musselman?
The Muscleman eats big steaks and the Musselman eats seafood Choudary…
Blangwort says
Wow. Locally we opposed a mosque because this was a rural area, the congregation lived over 1 hour away by car, the traffic would have been dangerous and onerous, there were serious doubts that any well and septic systems on the existing land could have handled the volume of what they were proposing, and neighboring farms didn’t want the disruption.
It looked as if it was about to go through, and then mysteriously, it appeared as if the money they said they had, didn’t really exist. Their attorney dropped the case like a hot potato. I’m thankful that things broke out this way because here we see what happens when the money really does exist.
Judy says
THANK GOD. BLESS ALL OF YOU STRESS GOING. 🙂
David says
Are you armed, Lori?
Brenda Romano says
This is outrageous! Setup a go-fund-me page and sue them for invasion of privacy!
Judy says
THOMAS LAW CENTER HELPING DOES NOT NEED A GO-FUND ME SEND TO THOMAS LAW CENTER THEY KNOW WHAT THERE DOING
Gen Jones says
Judy, kindly use lower case letters when posting here. I understand you feel strongly about this topic but all caps is considered rude as it looks like you are shouting.
Judy says
learned something new re; PC if I use caps it is considered shouting gee whiz GET a LIFE ever think of someone’s eye sight? I think I will be gone from here for awhile have better things to do