On Monday, CAIR-SFBA called on the Los Gatos Town Council to grant West Valley Muslim Association’s (WVMA) appeal and to remove discriminatory conditions placed on the town’s only mosque.
A Modest Request, Burdensome Conditions
WVMA had requested modest changes to the Los Gatos Islamic Center’s operating hours, including later evening hours and adjusted Ramadan hours. After a lengthy application process and multiple public hearings, the Planning Commission approved the permit—but attached 33 conditions to the mosque’s operations.
The Appeal Challenges Unequal Treatment
WVMA is now challenging 19 of those conditions. CAIR-SFBA and WVMA argue that several of these requirements are uniquely burdensome and not applied to other houses of worship, raising serious concerns about religious freedom and equal treatment under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.
Restrictions on Worship and Community Life
The challenged conditions include attendance limits below fire code capacity, restrictions on religious activities, annual and costly compliance reviews, and extensive parking and traffic requirements. WVMA maintains that these measures impose substantial burdens on its ability to practice and organize worship.
CAIR-SFBA Urges the Town to Follow Federal Protections
CAIR-SFBA Executive Director Zahra Billoo underscored the broader implications, noting that “Approving a mosque’s permit while attaching uniquely burdensome conditions is not equal treatment. Los Gatos should not impose restrictions on WVMA that it would not impose on other houses of worship. The Town Council should grant the appeal and ensure that any conditions are neutral, evidence-based, and consistent with federal religious freedom protections.”
A Test for Religious Freedom
The Town Council’s decision on the appeal will be an important test of equal access to religious space and protections for minority faith communities in the region.
Local news outlets are covering the appeal. Click below to read more.
