After a two-year legal battle, The Islamic Society of Boston dropped all of its claims of conspiracy and defamation in its sprawling lawsuit against the Herald, Fox 25 and several other groups and individuals yesterday. The ISB agreed to abandon all of its claims, and surrendered the ability to appeal the case later. Herald Publisher Patrick J. Purcell said the dismissal underscored the importance of the rights of the press to report on major stories. “The First Amendment protects the rights of journalists to gather and disseminate news, and (yesterday’s) dismissal of the lawsuits brought by the Islamic Society of Boston and others reinforces our conviction that we must stand fast against any erosion of the inherent right to report on important issues,” Purcell said in a statement. “The Herald’s coverage was detailed, well-researched, quality journalism that inspired public discussion about certain leaders of the Islamic Society of Boston and (its) dealings with the Boston Redevelopment Authority and we intend to continue our reporting in that tradition.”
The ISB, and two of its leaders Yousef Abou-Allaban and Osama Kandil, brought a lawsuit against the Herald, Fox 25 and others, including the non-profit David Project in 2005. The ISB claimed the groups conspired to block a controversial land deal between the Boston Redevelopment Authority and the society for the construction of a $22 million mosque and cultural center in Roxbury. All of those claims were dropped yesterday and none of the parties sued made any payments to the ISB, Abou-Allaban or Kandil.
| I'm guessing the discovery phase was beginning to get to close to some uncomfortable facts. |
In exchange for dropping its claims, a lawsuit filed by James C. Policastro against the ISB, the BRA and Roxbury Community College was also dropped. That suit, which was filed before the ISB launched its conspiracy charges, sought further disclosure regarding the land deal between the BRA and the ISB.
Yesterday, the ISB also claimed victory saying the dismissal of its suit means it can focus attention on completing the Roxbury mosque. “Everything the ISB set out to do in this case it accomplished,” said Al Farrah, a lawyer for the ISB. “A decision was made to focus (the ISB’s) resources on the completion and opening of the cultural center.”
| "And to stop the depositions and interrogatories." |
A lawsuit brought against the BRA by the David Project seeking the disclosure of documents relating to the land deal with the ISB is still open, Robbins said. Last month a Suffolk Superior Court judge ordered the BRA to hand over documents to the David Project.