Khatib

Jennifer Mathis and Becki F. Kieffer, Troutman Sanders LLP, Irvine, CA; Mark D. Rosenbaum (argued) and Hector O. Villagra, ACLU Foundation of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, for the plaintiff-appellant.

David D. Lawrence (argued) and Christina M. Sprenger, Lawrence Beach Allen & Choi, PC, Santa Ana, CA, for the defendants-appellees.

Conor B. Dugan (argued) and Gregory B. Friel, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for amicus curiae United States.

Before: ALEX KOZINSKI, Chief Judge, MARY M. SCHROEDER, DIARMUID F. O'SCANNLAIN, SIDNEY R. THOMAS, M. MARGARET McKEOWN, RAYMOND C. FISHER, RONALD M. GOULD, JOHNNIE B. RAWLINSON, RICHARD R. CLIFTON, SANDRA S. IKUTA, and N. RANDY SMITH, Circuit Judges.

Opinion by Judge McKEOWN; Concurrence by Judge GOULD.

McKEOWN, Circuit Judge:

Recognizing the significance of religious freedom in all aspects of life, Congress passed the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 ("RLUIPA" or "the Act") to "protect[ ] institutionalized persons who are unable freely to attend to their religious needs and are therefore dependent on the government's permission and accommodation for exercise of their religion." Cutter v.…