The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today denounces the vote by the Marlboro Zoning Board of Adjustment to deny the establishment of a Muslim community center at 449 Tennent Road in Marlboro Township.
This week’s vote came after nearly five years of delays by Marlboro Township, during which more than half a dozen scheduled hearings on the zoning application were canceled by the Board, imposing severe financial hardship and emotional toll on the Marlboro Muslim community. Only when a court ordered the township to complete hearings and render a vote on the application did the Board comply. After six total hearings spanning two years, during which local residents exhibited strong anti-Muslim sentiments both in person and online, the Board voted unanimously to reject the application.
On comments to a Facebook post by Asbury Park Press in which they reported on the delays and subsequent lawsuit on January 9, 2026, users commented:
“They have space in the middle east for mosques Marlboro is out of space[,]” and “Islam does not belong in this country[,] time to ban it.”1
SEE: Over 200 come out to hear plans for mosque in residential neighborhood in Marlboro
Marlboro Mayor’s own Facebook post about the zoning hearings had many hateful comments. See hateful comment from alleged Marlboro resident.
SEE: Alleged Resident Facebook Comment
In a statement, CAIR-NJ Public Affairs Director Naureen Akhter said:
“As we have seen in Wayne, and in several other municipalities across New Jersey, anti-Muslim and not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) types try to shut down the development of mosques across our state. I would like to remind the Zoning Board that federal laws exist, like the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, precisely so municipalities cannot shut down the development of houses of worship by hiding behind zoning technicalities. I have no doubt that with the laws on our side, the Muslim community of Marlboro will be successful in constructing this mosque.”
Other Muslim Communities denied the right to establish houses of worship include The Islamic Society of Basking Ridge and the Garden State Islamic Center. The iPray mosque in Wayne is undergoing a similar zoning fight.
See: Outrage Over Wayne Mosque Prompts Legal Action From Residents
See: Federal Judge Rules New Jersey Town Discriminated in Mosque Case
SEE: CAIR-NJ ‘Strongly Supports’ Lawsuit Against Sayreville For Rejecting Mosque
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: Public Affairs Director Naureen Akhter, nakhter@cair.com, 908-921-1238