News Features

Timeline of events

How the ISBCC turned from a place of worship to a symbol of controversy

By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | November 19, 2008

Read more:
thephoenix.com/mosque

•APRIL 1988
Roxbury religious leaders form the Muslim Council of Boston (MCB), and propose building a mosque on BRA-owned land

•DECEMBER 1992
The BRA confers "tentative designation rights" to the MCB, to build an Islamic center with a mosque and school

•JULY 1993
Tom Menino succeeds Ray Flynn as mayor of Boston

•OCTOBER 1996
With the MCB no longer moving forward on the project, Muhammad Ali-Salaam of the BRA begins seeking a new group to take over

•OCTOBER 1998
The BRA substitutes the Islamic Society of Boston (ISB) for the MCB as holder of the tentative designation rights

•AUGUST 2000
The BRA approves "Final Designation" status for the ISB

•MAY 2001
Construction bids come in far higher than anticipated, prompting significant redesign

•SEPTEMBER 2001
World Trade Center attack

•MARCH 2002
Menino sends a letter of support to the ISB, which it includes in a request for the BRA to extend an upcoming deadline

•JUNE 2002
With Final Designation about to expire, the BRA agrees to extend the deadline

•NOVEMBER 2002
Menino and the ISB hold a public groundbreaking, before the ISB has been sold the land

•FEBRUARY 2003
The ISB enters a 10-year contract with the Boston Parks & Recreation Department for maintenance of Jeep Jones Park and White Play Space

•MAY 2003
The ISB and the BRA close on the sale of the land

•OCTOBER 2003
The Boston Herald runs the first of several articles questioning the mosque's extremist ties

•SEPTEMBER 2004
Critics file a lawsuit, Policastro v. BRA, unsuccessfully claiming that the sale of the parcel was unconstitutional

•NOVEMBER 2004
WFXT airs the first of several reports critical of the mosque project

•OCTOBER 2005
The ISB files a lawsuit against the Herald and WFXT for libel and defamation

•MAY 2007
The ISB withdraws its libel and defamation lawsuit

•JUNE 2007
The Muslim American Society of Boston (MAS-Boston) takes over the mosque from the ISB

•NOVEMBER 2008
Mosque receives occupancy permit for daily prayers

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Topics: News Features , Religion, Tom Menino, Trials, More

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