(CANTON, MI, 03/22/2022) – The Michigan chapter of Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) a local chapter of the nation’s leading Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomes the decision of Judge Nancy Edmunds’ in favor of the Department of Justice in their case against the City of Troy over the denial of a zoning variance for Adams Community Center in 2018. The opinion of Judge Edmund’s paves the way for the Adam’s community to establish the first ever Muslim place of worship within the city of Troy.
In 2018 CAIR-MI filed a lawsuit against the city of Troy alleging discrimination and violation of Adam Community Center’s Rights under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution as well as the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Person’s Act (“RLUIPA”) when the city of Troy Zoning Board of Appeals failed to grant a variance that would allow them to establish a Mosque inside of an existing commercial building. At the time of the variance request Adam Community Center’s site plan made no changes to the existing building nor to the existing parking lot.
SEE: Lawsuit Filed Against Troy After Denial of Mosque
https://www.wxyz.com/news/lawsuit-filed-against-troy-after-denial-of-mosque
A year later in 2019, the Department of Justice filed its companion case against the City of Troy alleging the city’s zoning ordinances violated RLUIPA by treating religious assembly places, and Adam Community Center in particular, on different terms than it did other places of assembly.
SEE: US Department of Justice Files Discrimination Lawsuit Against City of Troy for Muslim restrictions
Last week, Judge Nancy Edmunds issued an Opinion and Order in favor of the Department of Justice in its lawsuit against the city of Troy.
In her opinion, Judge Edmunds stated that Troy’s ordinance violated RLUIPA by treating religious assembly places “on less than equal” terms than nonreligous assembly and that Adam Community Center was exactly the type of religious assembly that the law was intended to protect. In her Order, Judge Edmunds restrained the City of Troy from enforcing its zoning ordinance against Adam Community Center thereby paving the way for them to establish the first ever Mosque within the city.
SEE: Federal Judge Rules Against Troy’s Effort to block Mosque from Opening
Federal Judge: Troy’s Zoning Practices Discriminated Against Muslims
“CAIR-MI welcomes Judge Edmund’s decision in the Department of Justice’s companion case against the City of Troy,” said CAIR-MI Staff Attorney Amy V. Doukoure. “Even though our 2018 case remains undecided at this time, we are hopeful that the decision in the DOJ’s case will lead to a quick resolution of the outstanding issues in our case and that our clients will be able to open the doors to their mosque in time for the Islamic holy month of Ramadan that begins in April.”
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR-MI Staff Attorney Amy V. Doukoure (586) 943-8823 adoukoure@cair.com; CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid (248) 842-1418 dwalid@cair.com