Group opposed to Roxbury mosque sues BRA for documents
The David Project, a non profit Jewish advocacy organization, yesterday charged in Suffolk Superior Court that the Boston Redevelopment Authority is withholding public records related to the authority's sale of land to the Islamic Society of Boston for construction of a mosque.
The organization asked the court to order the BRA to surrender the documents, in particular copies of e-mails written and received by BRA deputy director Mohammad Ali-Salaam regarding the Roxbury land deal, and documents relating to travel by Ali-Salaam to the Middle East on behalf of the mosque project.
Susan Elsbree, spokeswoman for the redevelopment authority, said the authority is ``confident the court will find that the BRA has complied with all public records requests."
The David Project is among numerous organizations and individuals sued by the Islamic Society for allegedly conspiring to circulate false and defamatory information about its leaders in order to prevent the building of the mosque.
The defendants reject the conspiracy charge and assert that they made true statements and raised legitimate questions about the society and the project.
Their legal motion to have the conspiracy and defamation allegations dismissed was denied last week by Suffolk Superior Court Judge Janet L. Sanders.
Another suit, filed by Boston resident David Policastro to overturn the land deal, is also before the courts. Policastro asserts that the land was illegally conveyed to the Islamic Society at a price far below market value.
Jeffrey Robbins, an attorney for the David Project, said in a telephone interview that the suit filed yesterday is not directly related to the two previously filed suits. ``The David Project has for several years been seeking governmental review of this transaction, as have others," Robbins said.
Charles Jacobs, president of the David Project, said in a statement that the latest suit would not have been necessary if the BRA had cooperated with efforts by his organization and by the City Council to review the deal.
Charles A. Radin can be reached at radin@globe.com. 
