Recently some residents in
Farmington filed a lawsuit against the Farmington School Board for
authorizing the sale of Eagle Elementary to the Islamic Cultural
Association (ICA). While the ICA was successful in their
bid, Pittsfield Township-based Michigan Islamic Academy (MIA)
was rejected by their city’s planning commission on their rezoning
request to build a school in a case has also left many wondering
about possible discrimination. 

Those opposing the sale of the ICA are
accused of bias towards Muslims.  During a school
board meeting in June several protested the sale and made
testimonies regarded as hate messages by many. The lawsuit
alleges marketing studies were not exercised during
the sale and the board never allowed other potential
buyers the opportunity to make offers on the school which was on
the verge of being demolished at the time. 

On Thursday a vote was held by the
Pittsfield Planning Commission to deny a rezoning request from the
MIA to build an Islamic school on a piece of property
the group purchased. The Pittsfield Township Board of
Trustees has the final authority and is expected to vote on the
issue at an upcoming meeting according to a news report.   

The Council on American Islamic
Relations (CAIR) of Michigan is representing the MIA as a
legal counsel and sent a letter to the Department of Justice
(DOJ) expressing concern that Pittsfield Township violated
First Amendment rights and infringed on the civil rights of
Muslims when it rejected the MIA’s application to build an Islamic
school.   

 CAIR-Michigan Staff Attorney
Lena Masri says the MIA’s current facility is not large
enough to accommodate all its students. She said similar
situations are occurring across the nation where Muslim groups
face obstacles when attempting to build schools or centers.  

 CAIR requested the presence of the
Muslim community at Thursday night’s vote hoping it would send a
strong message to the Pittsfield Township Planning Commission that
Michigan Muslims will stand up for their basic democratic
rights. Those opposing the school say they are concerned about
traffic and neighborhood safety.