US: Michigan town approves Hidaya Islamic Center after years of legal challenges

Officials in Pittsfield Township, Michigan, unanimously approved the final plan for the Hidaya Islamic Community Center, concluding a years-long legal and social journey. Local media reported the swift vote, which lasted under six minutes, to authorize the 58,000-square-foot project that will include a mosque, community facilities, and 11 duplex buildings near Ellsworth Road.

The project is led by the Hidaya Islamic Community Association, a nonprofit based in Ann Arbor. The center aims to serve the wider community, featuring separate prayer halls for men and women, multipurpose spaces, and social activity areas open to both Muslims and non-Muslims.

Originally proposed as a school in 2011, the plan was rejected over traffic and neighborhood concerns. This sparked lawsuits, including one from the U.S. Department of Justice in 2015, citing religious discrimination. A $1.7 million settlement followed in 2016, allowing development to proceed.