The United American Muslim Association (UAMA) has filed a lawsuit against the Islip Zoning Board of Appeals, claiming the board succumbed to Islamophobia when it revoked approval for an all-boys Muslim boarding school in Bay Shore, New York. The group asserts that the town's reversal followed a surge of prejudiced public commentary and a contentious five-hour meeting in July.
Islip had initially approved the boarding school's plan in January, which included housing for 120 Muslim students. However, the Islip Zoning Board of Appeals reversed this decision in September, prohibiting students from residing at the former Catholic boarding school and seminary. The UAMA's lawsuit, filed Thursday, seeks to overturn this ruling.
According to the lawsuit, the circumstances surrounding the property and the school's proposal had not changed between the initial approval and the subsequent reversal. The UAMA argues that the only significant shift was the rise of what they describe as Islamophobic sentiment, evidenced by hostile comments on local Facebook groups and protests at the public meeting.
Screenshots included in the court filing reveal discriminatory remarks from local residents. One comment stated, "[Muslims] are infiltrating everywhere like cockroaches," while another referred to the school as "a terrorist training school." Other comments expressed similar sentiments in community Facebook groups such as "Saxon Says No" and "Massapequa Matters."
The UAMA's attorney, Muhammad Faridi, stated that the property has a history of housing students for nearly fifty years when it operated as a seminary and boarding school. He argued that the law should protect UAMA's right to reopen the facility, regardless of the students' faith.
"We are asking the court to restore the Town’s original determination and ensure that this Muslim community receives the fair treatment the law requires," Faridi added.
Prior to purchasing the Bay Shore property for over $5 million, the UAMA received assurances from the town planner that their proposal, including the boarding component, was permissible under the town's zoning code. However, the town later ruled that boarding was not a permitted use, despite the property's historical use as a boarding school and its current zoning as a parochial school with existing dormitories.
The property, originally the Montfort Spiritual Center Seminary, housed Catholic students from 1926 until its closure in 1972. It subsequently served as a headquarters for a religious congregation and a residence for aging priests before its sale to UAMA.
