Sterling Heights Officials say No Bias in Rejection of Mosque Plan
A Muslin group is suing Sterling Heights, alleging officials there violated federal law by rejecting a new mosque.
Officials in Sterling Heights say they did not discriminate against Muslims when they denied a request to build a new mosque in the city.
The American Islamic Community Center sued Sterling Heights last week, charging the city was violating federal laws against discrimination based on religious grounds when it rejected a plan to build a new mosque there.
Officials with the Islamic Center say they have outgrown their current facility in Madison Heights and that most of their members reside in Sterling Heights.
An attorney for the center reportedly alleges the Sterling Heights Planning Commission acted in a “racist” manner.
City officials counter in a statement that Sterling Heights is a very diverse community that has a variety of houses of worship, including two mosques.
The U.S. Justice Department is investigating the situation.
