Muslim School Can Maintain RLUIPA Substantial Burden and Establishment Clause Claims

Muslim Community Association of Ann Arbor v. Pittsfield Charter Township, (ED MI, May 22, 2013), is a suit by a pre-K -12 Islamic school challenging the refusal of a township board to approve a rezoning request to allow it to use property it purchased for a new school and community center. Plaintiff claimed that the rezoning denial was motivated in part by anti-Muslim sentiment. The court dismissed plaintiff's RLUIPA limitations and exclusion claim, its free exercise, freedom of speech and association, and 14th Amendment claims and comparable claims under the Michigan constitution However it permitted plaintiff to move ahead with its RLUIPA discrimination and substantial burden claims and its Establishment Clause claim against defendants in their individual capacities.