A Muslim congregation in Gwinnett County is making plans to submit a third request to the City of Lilburn for rezoning of four acres at the corner of U.S, Highway 29 and Hood Road so they can build a 20,000 square foot mosque and a 200 space parking lot.

On two previous occasions, the city has denied requests to change the property adjacent to the Dar-E-Abbas Worship Center from residential to commercial use.  Those denials are the basis for a federal lawsuit filed against Lilburn by the Shiite Muslim congregation and an official inquiry by the U.S. Justice Department.

Attorneys for the mosque claim their clients' civil rights were violated when the city said "no" to the rezoning requests.  Lilburn leaders contend the land dispute is simply a zoning matter, not religious discrimination or bias.  Opponents of the latest rezoning request plan to protest Monday night outside the Lilburn City Council meeting.

The council is scheduled to hear the latest Dar-E-Abbas proposal on August 16th.