Hendricks County in Indiana has reached an agreement with the Justice Department to overhaul its policies and compensate an Islamic organization following allegations of unlawful zoning practice denial. Hendricks County will pay $295,000 to Al Hussnain Inc., and a $5,000 civil penalty to the U.S. Government, as part of a settlement that also mandates new procedural training and policy implementation to prevent future discriminatory practices.
After facing substantial opposition from local communities and accusations that it applied its zoning ordinances inconsistently, the county had initially denied Al Hussnain's applications for a religious seminary and residential housing project. However, according to a statement from Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division, the animosity and zoning rejections not only violated the Fair Housing Act (FHA) but also attacked the core of America's democratic, tolerant ideals. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers resonated this sentiment, denouncing religious discrimination and reaffirming the commitment of the U.S Attorney's Office to combat such unlawful actions.
The complaint detailed specific allegations wherein Hendricks County diverged from its standard procedures by treating the Islamic organization's rezoning applications differently compared to those submitted by non-Muslim developers, which also speaks to a broader pattern of religious discrimination that the county has now pledged to remedy through the consent decree. This settlement remains subject to court approval.
Additionally, the county is required to establish a procedure for handling complaints under the FHA and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), ensuring that such discriminatory practices will be addressed and rectified with immediate effect. Individuals who believe they have been subjected to land use discrimination can reach out to the Civil Rights Unit at the U.S. Attorney's Office or the Housing and Civil Enforcement Section as per the contact details provided in the announcement from the U.S Attorney's Office.
U.S. Attorney Myers has recognized the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey Preston and Joi Kemper, along with attorneys from the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division.
