DOJ Files RLUIPA Suit Against Illinois City Over Mosque Rezoning

The U.S. Department of Justice announced yesterday that it has filed suit against the city of Des Plaines, Illinois alleging that the city violated RLUIPA when it refused to rezone a vacant office building to allow the American Islamic Center to operate a place of worship there. The complaint (full text) in United States v. City of Des Plaines, Illinois, (ND IL, filed 9/30/2015) alleges the city violated the substantial burden, equal terms and discrimination provisions of RLUIPA. As summarized in the press release:

The complaint alleges that the city imposed parking standards and other zoning criteria that were not supported under its zoning ordinance and that it had never imposed on non-Muslim places of worship.

Chicago Tribune reports on the lawsuit.