Islamic Center Sues Illinois City Over Zoning Change Denial

A federal court lawsuit was filed yesterday by an Islamic Center against Des Plaines, Illinois, alleging that the city and members of its city council violated the 1st and 14th Amendments and RLUIPA when they denied zoning changes so land and buildings the Center wanted to acquire could be used for religious worship and education.  The complaint (full text) in American Islamic Center v. City of Des Plaines, (D IL, filed 9/16/2013), alleges that the Islamic Center, most of whose 160 members are Bosnian Muslim refugees, obtained Plan Commission approval for its proposal for use of the now-vacant property, but that city council denied the changes by a vote of 5-3. The Daily Herald reports on the lawsuit.