David Project Welcomes American Jewish Committee Criticism of Islamic Society of Boston’s Lawsuit

The David Project, a non-profit educational organization which combats anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry, today welcomed the American Jewish Committee (AJC)'s public criticism of the lawsuit filed by the Islamic Society of Boston against an Islamic cleric, a Christian political science professor, the Jewish daughter of Holocaust survivors and various non-profit organizations, journalists and citizens, including the David Project. The AJC statement was posted on the AJC website this morning, at http://www.ajc.org.

“The American Jewish Committee is a preeminent international organization with a history of fighting for pluralism, tolerance and dialog among people of different religions and ethnic backgrounds,” said Charles Jacobs, President of The David Project. “It has richly earned its reputation for progressive values. Like the David Project, it has worked closely with moderate Muslims to build on the common ground that exists between people of different religions who deal with each other in good faith. The AJC has done groundbreaking research on the nature and extent of Islamic anti-Semitism. Like the David Project, it has warned against the extremely serious threat posed abroad and at home by radical Islam, including support for extremism.”

“No organization has worked harder to promote genuine dialog among people of different faiths than the American Jewish Committee.” Jacobs stated. “No organization has more vigorously worked for civil rights or with more devotion for the cause of tolerance.”

“That is why it is a matter of national significance,” Jacobs said, “that the national leadership of the AJC has condemned the Islamic Society of Boston’s lawsuit. It is a lawsuit brought against citizens who in our view raised important, legitimate, and well-substantiated concerns about the past and present leaders of the ISB, and about the evidence that certain of those individuals have been supportive of extremism.”

Jacobs said, “The ISB, funded with millions of dollars from Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the Middle East, appears to seek to frighten journalists and citizens alike with this lawsuit, using its immense financial power to chill the most fundamental exercise of freedom of speech.”

“While apparently seeking to bully critics on one hand,” Jacobs said, “the ISB invokes the platitudes of ‘dialog’ and ‘reconciliation’ on the other. While professing to be interested in transparency, on one hand, it retaliates against journalists who write critical articles about it, on the other.”

“The AJC is no stranger to important battles of principle, even ones that may be unpopular in certain quarters.” said Jacobs. “That is why the David Project is especially pleased to have its support in defending itself against the Islamic Society lawsuit, and the dangers that such a lawsuit presents.”