Islamic group repudiates trustee's anti-Semitic quotes

The Islamic Society of Boston, under pressure from groups including the Anti-Defamation League, publicly distanced itself yesterday from a trustee and treasurer accused of writing "virulently anti-Semitic" newspaper articles.

In a letter to Mayor Thomas M. Menino, the group said it has appointed a board of directors to propose a new governance structure and apologized for failing to condemn the offensive remarks sooner.

The trustee, Dr. Walid Fitaihi, was the author of an article in an Arabic-language newspaper that called Jews "murderers of prophets." He also wrote that Jews would be punished for their "oppression, murder, and rape of the worshipers of Allah," according to English translations. Fitaihi remains on the board of trustees, which oversees the group's real estate assets.

The society is building a $22 million mosque and cultural center in Roxbury, on land sold by the Boston Redevelopment Authority for $175,000.

"We unequivocally condemn all hateful, insensitive, and divisive statements," the Islamic Society said in its letter. "Furthermore, we have expressed these sentiments to Dr. Fitaihi in writing."

One week ago, a citizens' group, the ADL, and Boston's Temple Israel assailed the Society for its association with Fitaihi.

Responding to the criticism last week, the society issued a statement saying the articles were written during the second Palestinian uprising in 2000, "at a time of high emotion and great violence" perpetrated by both sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. According to that statement, the society accepted Fitaihi's position that the article was "not intended to incite hatred against Jews."

In its letter yesterday, the Ssciety apologized for not taking a stronger stand.

"We regret that previous responses by the ISB with regard to the contentious statements of Dr. Walid Fitaihi have been ambivalent . . ." the society said in its letter. "Dr. Fitaihi has always advised Muslims to show the utmost respect towards Jews and Christians and in this case has insisted that his intent was not to incite hatred. Despite this, we recognize that some of Dr. Fitaihi's writings have been extremely hurtful to our Jewish friends and neighbors. We wish to be as clear as possible in stating that we in no way condone Dr. Fitaihi's words as quoted in recent news reports."

The letter was signed by seven board members.

In addition to its apology, the society said it will create a community relations department to "aid our work in rebuilding relationships that have suffered in the past several months."

Robert Leikind, regional director of the ADL, said yesterday that the group welcomes the Society's new stance and sees it as a "valuable first step."

"We appreciate their willingness to engage us in dialogue," said Leikind, adding that he hopes the Islamic Society will now "directly address other serious concerns" that have been raised about the "ideas and beliefs" espoused by some of its leaders.

But Citizens for Peace and Tolerance, a group that has come forward to question the land sale and the Islamic Society's funding sources, said the letter to Menino did not go far enough. The group last week accused the society of having ties to Muslim extremists, charges the Society has denied. In a statement yesterday, the group said the Society must do more "to allay our serious concerns."

Criticism of the Islamic Society ignited new scrutiny of the city's 2003 land sale to the group. The City Council is planning to look at details of the deal, which sold 1.9 acres to the Society for $175,000 plus benefits to Roxbury Community College. Menino has also ordered an examination of the deal.

The mayor yesterday praised the Islamic Society for its letter.

"For so long they've been silent," he said. "This letter clarifies their position somewhat and reaches out to the Jewish community."