DAR AL HARB - U.S.A. - MASSACHUSETTS: THE ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF BOSTON CLAIMS VICTORY IN THEIR FIGHT WITH THE DAVID PROJECT

I am not quite sure how the ISB can claim victory when just on Tuesday, May 29th 2007 we had the following report:

Islamic Society of Boston Drops Lawsuits Against David Project, Concerned Citizens, Boston Herald and Fox, Abandoning All of Its Claims Without Receiving Any Payment

David Project to Continue Public Records Lawsuit to Force Disclosure ofEvidence on Boston Redevelopment Authority-Islamic Society Land Deal

...



Victory and Celebration at MAS Press Conference on ISB-David Project Settlement at ISB Mosque Site

BOSTON, May 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Muslim American Society
(MAS) Freedom Foundation - Boston, the public affairs arm of MAS, the
largest grassroots Muslim organization in the United States, held a press
conference to declare victory in the fight to protect the building of the
Islamic Society of Boston's Cultural Center, the largest mosque in New
England.

Muslim leaders stood shoulder to shoulder with Christian, Jewish and
other community leaders at the picturesque entrance to the new mosque to
show support for the Muslim community and to celebrate the settlement
between the ISB and the David Project. This was a fitting unveiling for the
mosque, which will not only serve as a place of worship, but also as an
inter-religious center that will focus on interfaith dialogue, research and
positive engagement between diverse cultures and faith traditions.

The Islamic Society of Boston's Cultural Center has been faced with a
multi-level campaign of negative reporting and disinformation. These
efforts resulted in a lawsuit initiated by the David Project, and filed by
James Policastro. The lawsuit sought to stop the completion of the Islamic
center by challenging the city's sale of land to the ISB. Consequently, a
lawsuit was filed on behalf of the ISB against the David Project, Inc.,
Citizens for Peace and Tolerance and other related defendants.

Organizations and individuals present represented the religious and
ethnic diversity of Boston. This included Jewish organizations such as
Workmen's Circle, Jesuit Priest Father Raymond Helmick (who is also a
professor of conflict resolution at Boston College) and members of
African-American faith communities. Well-known Boston community activist
Mel King stood with MAS and denounced the attacks on the mosque.

Howard Cooper, Chief Counsel for the ISB fielded questions by members
of the press and gave details concerning the case. MAS is pleased with the
settlement and emphasized that they had accomplished their goal of stopping
the debilitating and deliberate attempts to prevent the construction, and
to tear down the new mosque. Imam Mahdi Bray, Executive Director of MAS
Freedom Foundation, spoke of the settlement as a cause for celebration, a
chance to right a wrong and move forward. This will allow the Muslim
community to re- focus their efforts on building and sustaining lasting
relationships with other faith members of the Boston community.

The group agreed that not only is this a victory for the ISB and the
Greater Boston Muslim community, it is also a triumph for civil rights and
the 1st Amendment. This settlement sends a clear message that all faiths,
including Muslims, have a right to establish places of worship without fear
of intimidation or reprisal. MAS also stressed the importance of looking
forward and moving on. Bilal Kaleem, Executive Director of MAS Boston
stated, "This will allow us to move forward and continue building
meaningful partnerships and cooperation with all faith and ethnic
communities in working for good in Boston."


Pertinent Links:

1) Victory and Celebration at MAS Press Conference on ISB-David Project Settlement at ISB Mosque Site