Islamic Society of Boston suit moves forward

A judge ruled yesterday that a lawsuit brought by the Islamic Society of Boston asserting that news media outlets and other individuals had conspired to publish false and defamatory information about mosque leaders could go forward.

The Islamic Society sued a group of individuals and entities including the Boston Herald, WFXT-TV (Channel 25), a pro-Israel group The David Project, and terrorism specialist Steven Emerson asserting that they coordinated a campaign falsely linking mosque officials to Islamic extremism and terrorist groups in television and newspaper stories.

The plaintiffs say that the connections were fabricated and that the stories have interfered with their right to the free exercise of their religion. They also said the stories stalled development of their planned Roxbury mosque, drying up donations to the project.

The house of worship, which was planned as the largest mosque in New England, now sits partially completed at Roxbury Crossing.

The defendants reject the conspiracy and defamation claims, and argued that the case should be dismissed before its merits were considered, in part because the stories were protected under the First Amendment.

Superior Court Judge Janet L. Sanders rejected that argument and decided that the plaintiffs' claims should be heard in court.

YVONNE ABRAHAM