City to pay settlement in mosque lawsuit

The city of Troy will pay an undisclosed monetary settlement to a Muslim organization that prevailed in a federal lawsuit over the city’s refusal to allow a mosque to open.

The mosque at 3635 Rochester Road, south of Wattles Road, opened in September in a building formerly occupied by a restaurant and banquet hall.

Adam Community Center operates the mosque, called the First Jamiah Masjid. It is the city’s first Muslim place of worship.

While the settlement was undisclosed, the Adam Community Center asked in a court filing earlier this year for $1.95 million in attorney fees and actual and punitive damages, according to Amy Doukoure, staff attorney for the Council on American Islamic RelationsMichigan. CAIR-MI represented the group.

Adam Community Center filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in 2018, alleging the city unfairly applied zoning requirements to keep the mosque out.

CAIR-MI and the city of Troy jointly announced on Tuesday, Nov. 22, the “full and final resolution” of the lawsuit.

“While the parties involved are confident in their respective legal positions, everyone believes that settlement is in the best interest of all, especially given the emotionally charged nature of these long-pending cases,” the two sides said in the statement.

“The settlement is not an admission of liability but clarifies that the property can be used for religious purposes. The mutually agreeable settlement resolves the lawsuit and includes an undisclosed award of monetary damages. The full terms of the settlement are confidential, and this press release shall serve as the sole source of information.”

Troy Mayor Ethan Baker expressed a desire to continue the city’s “positive relationship” with the Muslim group.

“The Troy City Council embraces the multicultural fabric of our city, where there are many varied locations for our diverse community members to worship, including the First Jamiah Masjid of Troy,” Baker said. “We are grateful that we were able to amicably resolve the pending case and look forward to continuing a positive relationship.”

Adam Community Center expressed its intent to move forward with its mission of providing religious instruction and community service.

“Adam Community Center is pleased to have this lawsuit behind them and looks forward to having a permanent location in the city where they can provide religious and educational services, engage in community outreach and do the interfaith work that is at the core of its mission,” Doukoure said in the statement.

The U.S. Department of Justice also prevailed in a federal lawsuit filed on behalf of Adam Community Center. The DOJ argued the city had violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000, which says government agencies must give religious groups the same consideration given to nonreligious groups.