Islamic group denies ties to extremists
Board members of the Islamic Society of Boston said yesterday that they have avoided financial or organizational ties with extremist groups and have sought assistance from US and state law enforcement agencies to make certain that no such associations are established.
In an effort to quell concern that the group has ties to extremist individuals, several board members offered assurances of its moderate views and links. The society is building a mosque and cultural center in Roxbury on land provided by the Boston Redevelopment Authority.
''We are trying to create a moderate, middle-of-the-road position," said Salma Kazmi, one of three members of the board of directors of the Islamic Society of Boston who met with Globe editors and reporters.
The board has embarked on an outreach program with media outlets and other religious organizations, particularly leaders in the Jewish community, to convey similar assurances, said Dr.Yousef Abou-Allaban of Walpole, chairman of the Islamic Society's board.
''We have to allay concerns that some people may have unfortunately have gotten about the society," he said.
In March, local leaders of the Anti-Defamation League sought explanations from the society about anti-Semitic articles written by one of its trustees, Walid Ahmad Fitaihi, that included statements that Jews ''perpetrated the worst of evils," ''brought the worst corruption to the earth" and ''killed prophets."
Fitaihi remains a member of the society's board of trustees, but in June that board turned over all of its control and power in running the society to a new, seven-member board of directors, Abou-Allaban said. He said the group wanted more local control over the society. ''Unlike before, all the board members now live here or have business interests here," Abou-Allaban said.
Echoing a letter sent to Mayor Thomas M. Menino Tuesday by the Islamic Society's seven member board, Abou-Allaban said that the organization rejected extremist views and was seeking to meet with the ADL.
In the interview, the board members said that the society has raised about half of the $14 million it needs to complete the project. The bulk of the money has been raised from individuals in foreign countries, especially Saudi Arabia. However, all of the Saudi contributions have come from individuals there and none from religious or political entities, the government, or members of the Saudi royal family, Abou-Allaban said.
To avoid accepting contributions from organizations or individuals who may espouse extremist views, the society has since Sept. 11, 2001, checked those making donations with lists of entities whose activities are blocked by the US government, according to Abou-Allaban. Kazmi added that within the last three years the group had returned a $10,000 contribution from a US organization whose name was on a watch list. Also, the group has met frequently with the FBI and other law enforcement officials to provide assurances about its activities and members.
Gail Marcinkiewicz, spokeswoman for the FBI's Boston office, said that the agency does not speak publicly about groups that it meets with but that federal agents maintain a ''free flow of information" with local Muslim organizations.
Stephen Kurkjian can be reached via kurkjian@globe.com.
