Hundreds of residents gathered outside of Sterling Heights to protest the mosque.

STERLING HEIGHTS — The City Planning Commission voted unanimously to reject a proposed mosque on 15 Mile Road on Thursday, September 10, as hundreds of residents packed inside and outside of City Hall in opposition to the center. 

The proposal spiraled into huge resistance in recent weeks, causing residents and city leaders to come out of the woodwork to express their dismay at the project. Tensions escalated outside of City Hall as residents awaited a decision. 

The proposal to build the multi-million dollar 23,000 square foot facility was led by the American Islamic Community Center (AICC), which runs a mosque in the neighboring city of Madison Heights.

After some residents, including members of the Chaldean community, displayed questionable remarks at previous City Council and City Planning Commission meetings, local Muslim residents and civil rights groups feared that Islamophobia was at the root of the discontent. 

Previously, residents had made public comments linking the mosque to ISIS and questioning whether it was funded by international terrorist organizations. 

That was apparent outside of City Hall during the Planning Commission meeting, where residents chanted “no more mosques” and booed Muslim religious leaders who attempted to enter the building.  Right before the start of the meeting, police closed the doors due to overcrowding. 

Inside the meeting, residents once again cited zoning issues and traffic congestion as problematic to the neighborhood. 

The Planning Commission ended up rejecting the proposed center in a 9-0 vote. City Planner Donald Mende said the mosque was too tall for a residential neighborhood, echoing residents’ concerns. 

Jeff Chehab, board member of the AICC, proposed reducing the mosque’s towers by nine feet. However, the Planning Commissioners were dead set on their decision

Chehab told city officials that his right to build a mosque was protected under the Constitution.

“Not allowing this mosque to be built is a violation of my Constitutional rights,” he said. “Denying me a house of worship in the place I live is unacceptable. We have the right to build a mosque.”

Mayor Michael Taylor, who had come under fire in recent weeks for Islamophobic comments that he would later retract, said he was also in opposition to the site on 15 Mile Road. He said he would prefer the mosque be built in another location in the city. 

Outside of City Hall, tensions flared between Chaldean residents and local Muslims, some of whom showed up to counter-protest the opposition.

“I’m here to show my support for the U.S. citizens who have every right to build a place of worship of their own,” said a Dearborn resident named Batoul.

Members of the “Take on Hate” campaign were also present outside of City Hall to counter protest, chanting the name of their campaign and “we love you.” 

Many of those in opposition to the center appeared disgruntled at the counter-protesters, shouting back at them “your religion is hate.” 

Rashida Tlaib, leader of the “Take on Hate” campaign, told The Arab American News that she was disturbed by the actions of residents outside of City Hall. 

“I was born and raised in Michigan and this is just not who we are,” Tlaib said. “I don’t think this is the message that we want to send to young people. It’s all skewing from bigotry and discrimination, which is against who we are and what we value.”

Tlaib said it was puzzling to witness Iraqi Christians display such severe animosity towards the rejected mosque.

“Many people here fled persecution from this type of hate,” she said. “They fled from hate and violence and all you hear from what is coming out of their mouths is not about zoning or parking. This is about the fact that this is a Muslim organization seeking a place of worship. I wish they would promote peace and love and support the way we are in our country.”

Residents outside City Hall erupted in celebration after news arrived that the Planning Commission had rejected the mosque. Chants, such as “go back to your country” and “God bless America” could be heard among the crowd.

On Thursday evening, Taylor issued a statement claiming that the city’s rejection of the center had no correlation to religion.

“The recent application for the special approval land use to construct a mosque was considered by the City’s Planning Commission based on objective land use criteria and not emotional feelings tied to religious beliefs either for or against the applicant,” Taylor said. “Sterling Heights has a solid reputation for inclusiveness and tolerance reflected in a wide variety of places of worship across the city, including a Sikh temple, a Buddhist temple and two existing mosques.”

Social media was quick to respond to the news in Sterling Heights. Steve Speitzer, from the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion shared his dismay at the city’s decision.

“Unreconciled anger and political cowardice prevailed in Sterling Heights this evening,” Speitzer said. 

Local resident Angel Mechling shared seniments of disapproval as well.

“My great great great great grandfather fought in the civil war,” Mechling said. ” I come from a long line of Johnson generals who fought in every war this country has faced. My family fought so that you and I can practice our religion as we see fit, to create the greatest country in the world. Today we dishonored those who fought to give us all equal freedom under the law…. today my family was ashamed…. #freedomlost.”