The Islamic Society of Tulsa is expected to file a lawsuit against the City of Broken Arrow following the city’s January decision to reject plans for a proposed mosque and commercial complex. The announcement comes just days after the U.S. Department of Justice opened an investigation into whether the city’s actions violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) of 2000, a federal law that protects religious organizations from discriminatory land-use decisions.

Federal investigators are examining whether Broken Arrow’s zoning process imposed an unlawful burden on religious exercise or treated the mosque proposal differently from comparable nonreligious developments. Under RLUIPA, the Justice Department may investigate alleged violations, file lawsuits, and seek court orders requiring compliance, though it cannot seek monetary damages. The Islamic Society of Tulsa, which has owned the 15-acre site since 2014, may also pursue its own legal claims under the law.

City officials have maintained that the proposal was rejected solely over planning concerns, including traffic, flooding, water quality, and compatibility with the city’s comprehensive development plan. However, the proposal had previously received approval from the city’s Planning Commission before being denied by the City Council in a 4-1 vote following months of public debate.

The dispute has drawn national attention after reports revealed that city leaders received hundreds of anti-Muslim emails during the approval process. An investigation by The Frontier found that at least two elected officials appeared to agree with anti-Islamic messages sent by constituents before the vote, although council members have denied that religion influenced their decision.

Broken Arrow is expected to consider hiring outside legal counsel to respond to the DOJ investigation and related litigation. Meanwhile, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has criticized the federal investigation as “federal overreach” and urged the Trump administration to halt it. City officials say they are cooperating with federal investigators but have declined further public comment while legal proceedings continue.