Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Oyster Bay Seeks Delay of Bethpage Mosque Trial as Oct. 27 Start Nears

Mosque lawyers argue a postponement would prolong harm to their congregation.

Overview

  • The town asked the federal court on Oct. 10 to push back the trial date, citing compressed preparation time and observance of the Jewish High Holidays.
  • Attorneys for Masjid Al-Baqi opposed the request as an eleventh-hour move, telling Judge Sanket J. Bulsara that each day of delay compounds the burden on worshippers.
  • The case stems from Oyster Bay’s denial of an expansion, with the town framing its stance around traffic and parking while mosque leaders allege discriminatory treatment.
  • A 2022 parking rule increased required spaces for houses of worship, and the town this month revised its code to align calculations for secular and religious uses.
  • Recent flashpoints include the town’s firing of a traffic consultant over anti-Muslim social media posts and a proposed $3.95 million settlement in August that officials later withdrew.