11th Circuit protects religious minorities from government discrimination

The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel and Vice President of Appellate Advocacy John Bursch regarding the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit’s decision in Thai Meditation Association of Alabama v. City of Mobile, which upheld the legally and constitutionally protected freedoms of a religious minority group to practice its faith without government discrimination or hostility:

“In America, religious liberty guarantees people of all faiths the freedom to practice and live out their beliefs as their tradition teaches. This constitutionally protected freedom is essential for religious minority groups—including those who have faced historic persecution and discrimination throughout the world, like those of the Jewish faith who we represented in a brief filed with the court. Federal law also provides critical religious exercise protections in the land use and zoning context to ensure that government officials can’t discriminate against religion in subtle ways. The 11th Circuit rightly reversed the lower court’s misguided decision, ensuring that people of all faiths have the freedom to live out their religious beliefs.”

ADF attorneys filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case on behalf of the Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty.

Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.

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