Fed suit: Chicago suburb discriminated against Islamic group

Complaint was brought forward by the American Islamic Center.

The city had previously cited traffic and parking concerns for not approving the American Islamic Center’s plans.

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. And it said it will “respond accordingly” to the lawsuit.

Des Plaines city spokeswoman Linda DeTomasi declined immediate comment on the lawsuit. Most of its 180 members came to the United States in the 1990s as refugees from war-torn Yugoslavia. Officials also noted the reduction of income tax earning if contradicting the rezoning use, but had admitted other action functions from different sacred and tax-exempt groups. The government claims that Des Plaines’ “treatment and denial of AIC’s rezoning request constitutes the imposition or implementation of a land use regulation that imposes a substantial burden on AIC’s religious exercise” and discriminates against AIC on the basis of religion. In February 2013, AIC entered into a contract to purchase property at 1645 Birchwood Avenue in Des Plaines.

The Des Plaines City Council denied the rezoning request in July 2013. Aldermen at the time denied discrimination played any role in their decision.

The lack of a place of worship for the Islamic group, the suit says, has “hindered in conducting weddings, celebrating births and providing funeral prayer services” and, in general, meant “interfaith activities are limited in scope and intensity”.