Community Announcement: Back to School 2026 — Equipping Families, Educating Schools, Combating Islamophobia   

(New Jersey, September 10, 2026) — The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) is proud to announce the publication and statewide distribution of new Back to School resources designed to support Muslim students and families and help educators better understand and accommodate Muslim students. 

Educating Educators 

CAIR-NJ’s Educator’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices provides teachers, administrators, and school districts with practical information about Muslim religious practices, including prayer, Ramadan, Eid, halal food, and religious accommodations, while also addressing misconceptions and curriculum issues.  

SEE GUIDE HERE: Educator’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices

The guide was emailed to 2,400 educators and school administrators across New Jersey, with 70+ hard copies also distributed to schools with a large Muslim population across the state. 

Teaching 9/11: Context, Sensitivity, and the Muslim Experience 

The Educator’s Guide also features a 9/11 curriculum unit plan designed to help educators approach the teaching of 9/11 with greater cultural awareness and sensitivity, including consideration of the experiences and perspectives of Muslims. 

SEE UNIT PLAN HERE: 9/11 Curriculum Unit Plan

Empowering Parents & Students 

CAIR-NJ’s Back to School Resource Guide for Parents and Students equips Muslim families with information and resources to navigate the new academic year and advocate for their rights and religious accommodations in school. 

SEE GUIDE HERE: Back to School Resource Guide for Parents and Students

The guide has been published online and shared through email and social media, with hard copies also being mailed to community members and centers across the state. 

Helping Parents Address Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying 

CAIR-NJ has also produced a Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) Guide to help parents understand New Jersey’s HIB process, recognize when an incident may constitute HIB, and understand how to file a HIB complaint with their child’s school. 

SEE GUIDE HERE: Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) Guide

A Proactive Approach to Combating Islamophobia 

Together, these resources are part of CAIR-NJ’s proactive effort to curb anti-Muslim hate, and misconceptions about Islam in the classroom, while helping make New Jersey’s public schools more welcoming and accommodating for Muslim students. 

“Education is one of the most important tools we have to combat hate,” said CAIR-NJ Executive Director Selaedin Maksut.  

“These resources allow us to approach this work from multiple angles, equipping educators with the knowledge to better serve Muslim students while empowering parents and students to understand and advocate for their rights.” 

Accessing the Resources 

CAIR-NJ encourages educators, school administrators, parents, students, and community organizations to utilize and share these resources throughout the academic year. 

Anyone who would like a hard copy of any of these resources can contact the CAIR-NJ office at info@nj.cair.com or submit this form. 

CAIR-NJ and Partners Hosting 7th Annual Muslim Day of Advocacy 

Join CAIR-NJ and our coalition of Muslim organizations at our 7th Annual Muslim Day of Advocacy on September 24, 2026 at the New Jersey State House.  

This year, CAIR-NJ is joined by Muslim League of Voters, CAIR Action-NJ, ICNA Social Justice, Emgage Action, NJ Muslim Civic Coalition, Palestinian American Community Center, American Muslims for Palestine, Indian American Muslim Council, and Muslim Ummah of North America. 

Muslim community members, activists, and students from across the state will travel to Trenton to meet with legislators to advocate for our community’s most pressing needs.  

Throughout the day, delegates will lobby for issues including: 

• Divestment of New Jersey pension investments from Israeli bonds 

• Updating New Jersey Learning standards to require instruction on Muslims’ contributions  

• Ranked choice voting (A1745/S1643) 

• Examining the state’s role in slavery and possible remedies (reparations, A5253/A602) 

• Accommodations for fasting students (S1340) 
• And making it easier for for tax-exempt nonprofit and religious organizations to build affordable housing (Yes in God’s Backyard, S1836). 

Meeting with legislators at our state house is a critical part of securing wins for our community. Join us and make your voice heard! 

Register by September 18th: cair-nj.org/mda2026. 

If you would like to see more programs that uplift Muslim voices and strengthen our community’s civic engagement, please consider making a financial contribution to support this work: cair-nj.org/fundmda26. 

Video: Late CAIR-NJ Board Chairwoman Sister Cynthia Brown Honored in Congress

(NEWARK, NJ – 9/1/2026) – The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, welcomed Congresswoman LaMonica McIver’s moving floor speech honoring CAIR-NJ’s late Board Chairwoman Sister Cynthia Brown.

SEE: Tribute to Sister Cynthia Brown in Congress

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.  

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CONTACT: Public Affairs Director Naureen Akhter, nakhter@cair.com, 908-921-1238 

CAIR-NJ Celebrates: New Jersey Leads the Nation in Number of Muslim Elected Officials 

(NEWARK, NJ – 8/21/2026) – The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, celebrates New Jersey once again leading the nation in the number of Muslims elected to public office.  

The finding was published this week in CAIR’s newly released annual report, the 2026 Directory of Elected Muslim Officials, which tracks the growing political participation and electoral success of American Muslims across the country. 

SEE: CAIR, CAIR Action Identify 255 Muslim Elected Officials in New 2026 Directory  

The directory reported forty-six Muslims serving in public office in the state, from local school boards to municipal government and the New Jersey State legislature. This figure does not reflect the number of Muslims serving in judicial roles, as judges in New Jersey are appointed rather than elected.   

In a statement, CAIR-NJ Public Affairs Director Naureen Akhter said:   

“New Jersey is among the states with the highest Muslims per capita. While we are proud that our political representation reflects our community’s breadth, we still have a long way to go to fully realize our civic aspirations: to enact policies that address our community’s needs, to push back on institutional Islamophobia, and to protect our right to free speech.”   

“Our community is not simply a constituency to be spoken about; we are voters, organizers, advocates, candidates, and public servants helping shape the future of our state.  

“This representation reflects a community that understands that democracy works best when we participate in it, and it should inspire even more Muslims to make their voices heard and take an active role in civic life.” 

CAIR-NJ is committed to advancing civic participation across the state: from our Vote For Justice initiative to register and educate Muslim voters, to our annual Muslim Youth Leadership Intensive where we train the next generation of leaders, and to the workshops and resources delivered throughout the state on civic education.  

SEE: CAIR-NJ Vote For Justice 

SEE: Muslim Youth Leadership Intensive 

SEE: 2026 Congressional Tracker 

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.   

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CONTACT: Public Affairs Director Naureen Akhter, nakhter@cair.com, 908-921-1238