• • Criminalize public gatherings that aim to challenge injustice or advocate for change
  • Punish individuals for organizing demonstrations that may cause “public inconvenience or annoyance”
  • Open the door to selective enforcement, disproportionately impacting marginalized communities
  • Create a chilling effect on speech, discouraging people from speaking out or participating in protests for fear of legal consequences

CAIR-NJ Invites Constituents to Join USCMO for 10th Annual National Muslim Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill

MEDIA ADVISORY

(Newark, NJ, 04/24/2025) – The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today announced that it will join the U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO) and invites the American Muslim community to the 10th Annual National Muslim Advocacy Day on April 28 and April 29, 2025, in Washington, D.C.

This milestone event is slated to bring together Muslim leaders, activists, and constituents from across the country to meet with members of Congress and advocate for policies that support justice, civil rights, and inclusive representation.

REGISTER: USCMO 10th Annual National Muslim Advocacy Day On Capitol Hill

WHEN: Monday, April 28 – Tuesday, April 29, 2025

WHERE: Capitol Hill, E Capitol St. & 1st St. NE, Washington, D.C. 20004

CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Communications Manager Aya Elamroussi, aelamroussi@cair.com, 551-208-5482

This year’s theme “Defending Rights, Shaping Policy” reflects the urgency of civic engagement amid escalating global crises and intensifying threats to civil liberties in the United States. Delegates will engage lawmakers on U.S. foreign policy in Gaza, the crisis in Sudan, the persecution of Uyghur Muslims in China, and the growing need to protect civil rights and religious freedoms domestically.

In a statement, CAIR-NJ Government Affairs Associate Maheen Mumtaz said:

“National Muslim Advocacy Day is more than a day of meetings—it’s a nationwide movement for meaningful representation.

“This year’s event comes at a pivotal time. As our communities navigate challenges both globally and domestically, we must ensure our voices are heard in the halls of power. Advocacy like this helps amplify our priorities and hold elected officials accountable.

“We hope this day inspires American Muslims—especially youth and first-time participants—to continue engaging civically and to be part of shaping the policies that affect our lives.”

Last year, during the 9th Annual Muslim Advocacy Day, approximately 700 American Muslim delegates from 25 states met with over 200 congressional offices across three days—from April 29 to May 1, 2024. The theme of the event was “Unifying Muslim Voices: Advocating for Justice, Equality, and Palestinian Rights.”

Delegates advocated for:

• Free speech rights of student protesters, especially those speaking out on behalf of Palestine.
• An immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and an end to U.S. weapons transfers and military aid to Israel.
• Unrestricted humanitarian aid to Palestinians, including the reinstatement of U.S. funding to UNRWA.
• Combating anti-Palestinian racism and anti-Muslim hate on college campuses.

Participants also received advocacy and policy training at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center and coordinated their efforts from the Rayburn House Office Building to maximize engagement and impact.

This year as the event celebrates its 10th anniversary, participation is expected to grow even further, marking a decade of consistent grassroots American Muslim advocacy on Capitol Hill.

Interested participants can still register by Monday, April 28. 

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

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CAIR-NJ Urges Attention to Gaza Environmental Destruction on Earth Day

(Newark, NJ – 4/22/2025) – The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) on today’s Earth Day highlighted the unprecedented environmental catastrophe unfolding in Gaza due to the US-backed Israeli genocide of Palestinians and the ecocide of Palestinian territories.

As the global community commemorates Earth Day on April 22, CAIR-NJ is bringing urgent attention to the ongoing Israeli military assault on Palestine that has not only resulted in ethnic cleansing of Palestinians but systematically destroyed the territory’s ecosystems, agricultural systems, and natural resources in what amounts to ecological warfare.   

READ MORE: How Israel destroyed Gaza’s ability to feed itself

A staggering 85% of Gaza’s water and sanitation infrastructure has been destroyed, leaving most residents with just 3 to 5 liters (that’s about 3 to 5 quarts) of contaminated water daily, which is far below the World Health Organization’s minimum of 15 liters of water per person per day during emergencies. This has created conditions ripe for waterborne disease outbreaks that could claim more lives than the violence itself.

Recent satellite analysis by the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) shows catastrophic damage to Gaza’s agricultural capacity. According to the center’s February 2025 report, approximately 70% of Gaza’s crop and farm land shows visible signs of severe damage or destruction from military operations. This comes as UN agencies report 90% of Gaza’s population experiences acute food insecurity.  

In a statement, CAIR-NJ Communications Manager Aya Elamroussi said:  

“The systematic destruction of Palestinian farmland and water infrastructure not only creates immediate starvation risks but permanently undermines the territory’s ability to sustain itself, eroding food and water sovereignty for generations of Palestinians.

“We know the Israeli military’s efforts, condoned and sponsored shamelessly by the U.S., are targeted, intentional, and calculated.  

“On this Earth Day, we must remember and amplify the environmental injustice our American tax dollars have been funding across Palestine.” 

CAIR-NJ reiterated its calls on the U.S. government to stop sending military aid to Israeli and urges news media outlets to include Palestine in their Earth Day coverage as the territory continues to be bombarded with US-funded weaponry.

In a Tuesday statement posted on X, Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner-general of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, said:

“Hunger is spreading & deepening, deliberate & manmade. Gaza has become a land of desperation. Two million people: a majority of women & children are undergoing collective punishment.”

Additional facts and figures:

More than 75% of Gaza’s iconic olive trees, living symbols of Palestinian cultural heritage and economic resilience, have been destroyed, according to a report by A-Haq, a non-governmental organization based in the occupied West Bank. Many of the ancient trees, some centuries old, represent not just agricultural assets but the deep connection between the Palestinian people and their land.  

A June 2024 United Nations report revealed an even more insidious threat: The estimated 25,000 tons of explosives used in Gaza have contaminated soil and groundwater with heavy metals including lead, mercury, and other toxic substances. Environmental experts warn this pollution will cause generational health impacts, with children particularly vulnerable to developmental disorders and other serious conditions.

Gaza’s biodiversity has suffered equally devastating blows. The Yale School of the Environment reports that the territory’s only nature reserve, a crucial habitat for migratory birds and endangered species, has been completely destroyed. This destruction reflects a pattern of environmental disregard that extends beyond human targets to the region’s entire ecosystem.

BACKGROUNDER:

Earth Day, which began in 1970, sparked major environmental changes the establishment of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act.

READ MORE: Earth Day Then And Now: How A Single Day Sparked Decades Of Change

Now a global movement, it drives climate action, though challenges like pollution and emissions remain. Progress has been made, but more work is needed.  

Islamic teachings mandate environmental stewardship, prohibiting waste and demanding resource conservation. Gaza’s ecological destruction thus constitutes not only a humanitarian catastrophe but a profound violation of these sacred obligations. 

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

CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Communications Manager Aya Elamroussi, 551-208-5482, aelamroussi@cair.com 

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CAIR-NJ Calls on Gov. Murphy to Veto Bill Designed to Place Vague Restrictions on First Amendment Rights

(Newark, NJ – 4/17/2025) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations of New Jersey (CAIR-NJ) today calls on Gov. Phil Murphy to veto Bill A4652 / S3507, a deeply flawed piece of legislation that threatens the fundamental democratic rights of free speech and peaceful assembly. The bill passed by the New Jersey Legislature on March 24, 2025, and is currently on Murphy’s desk.

ACT NOW – URGE GOV. MURPHY TO VETO A4652 / S3507 

The bill, introduced by Assemblyman Dan Hutchison (D-LD4) and Sen. Paul D. Moriarty (D-LD4), was framed as a response to public unrest and aimed at improving law enforcement preparedness following a disturbance at a carnival in East Brunswick on May 18, 2023, which involved an armed robbery and attempted murder by a 15-year-old teen.

Experts warn the bill uses vague, subjective language that could suppress protests and criminalize dissent. It would make it a disorderly person’s offense to organize or join a protest of just four or more people if it “offends the sensibilities of a hearer,” giving law enforcement broad power to target peaceful demonstrators—especially those from marginalized communities.

READ MORE: What sparked that problematic legislation? 

In a statement, CAIR-NJ Government Affairs Associate Maheen Mumtaz said:

“If signed into law, Bill A4652 / S3507 would not just chill free speech—it would put it in a deep freeze. This bill is a direct threat to our constitutional rights and paves the way for dangerous government overreach. By criminalizing peaceful protest based on vague and subjective language, it hands law enforcement a tool to silence marginalized communities and suppress movements for justice. 

“From the civil rights era to today’s fight for racial and social equity, peaceful protest has been a cornerstone of progress. This legislation threatens to roll back decades of hard-won freedoms. We call on Gov. Phil Murphy to stand on the right side of history and veto this bill immediately and unequivocally.” 

BACKGROUNDER

Legislation that restricts assembly and protest in the name of public order has historically been used to silence dissent—particularly during times of civil rights activism and anti-war protests. Civil liberties organizations across the country have raised red flags about similarly worded bills that leave room for subjective interpretation by law enforcement. In this case, the language around what constitutes “offending the sensibilities” is especially troubling, as it could be weaponized against peaceful demonstrators based solely on viewpoint, content, or identity.

CAIR-NJ warns that the passage of such a bill would set a dangerous precedent in a state that has long prided itself on civic engagement and political expression.

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

CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Communications Manager Aya Elamroussi, 551-208-5482, aelamroussi@cair.com

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CAIR-NJ Releases Update on Palestinian American Teens Shot 47 times by Israeli Forces in Occupied West Bank 

(Newark, NJ – 4/8/2025) – The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations today announced that all three teenagers who were shot in the occupied West Bank on April 6 are U.S. citizens. One teenager is dead, another remains hospitalized in critical condition, and the third is in good condition.

READ: Family of 14-year-old from N.J. wants answers as to why Israeli soldiers shot him dead

Amer Mohammed Saada Rabee —a 14-year-old boy formerly of Saddle Brook, New Jersey— was fatally shot on April 6 by the Israeli military. Amer was shot 11 times, according to his father Mohammed Rabee, who cited an autopsy report.

Ayub Igbara —a 14-year-old boy born in Little Ferry, New Jersey— was shot three times by the Israeli military, according to his uncle Najee Ijbara. He remained hospitalized in critical condition Tuesday awaiting another surgery in Ramallah.

Abdelrahman (also known as Abed) Shehada, of Georgia, was also shot by Israeli forces and was in good condition Tuesday.

“Amer Rabee’s killers must be held accountable. We call on Congress members to speak up and demand an investigation that leads to justice in the senseless killing of Amer, an American boy who also happens to be Palestinian.  America is not only supplying the weapons that kill Americans abroad, it is aiding and abetting Israel’s utter impunity in war crimes and human rights violations,” said CAIR-New Jersey Executive Director Selaedin Maksut.

CAIR-New Jersey representatives attended a press conference Tuesday held by the Palestinian American Community Center in Clifton detailing the shooting. Amer is the nephew of Rami Jbara, who serves as a board member for the prominent organization.

How the shooting unfolded

The three teenage boys were playing in an orchard, attempting to pick green almonds from trees when Israeli shots rang out at approximately 6:40 p.m. local time on April 6 in the occupied West Bank town of Turmus Aya in Palestine.

Ayub and Abed were able to flee the scene after the Israeli military shot them. However, Amer was shot nearly a dozen times and died at the scene.

“We fled before they finished us off,” Ayub said during a Tuesday phone call with his uncle, Najee Ijbara, while CAIR-New Jersey was present.

During the phone call Tuesday, Ayub said he bled severely – requiring as many as 16 pints of blood – as he and Abdelrahman made their way to a hospital in an ambulance. The vehicle held up at an Israeli checkpoint for about 30 minutes while the pair required immediate medical attention.

Ayub underwent a six-hour surgery and is planned to undergo another procedure this week.

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

CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Communications Manager Aya Elamroussi, 551-208-5482, aelamroussi@cair.com

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CAIR-NJ, CAIR Action NJ Condemn Killing of Palestinian American Boy of NJ, Call on Elected Officials for Accountability

(Newark, NJ – 4/8/2025) – The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) and CAIR Action NJ today called on New Jersey officials to condemn the killing of a New Jersey-born Palestinian teen by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank and urge officials to demand accountability for the murder of the American citizen and the attempted killing of two others.

Amer Mohammad Saada Rabeea —a 14-year-old boy formerly of Saddle Brook, New Jersey— was shot and killed April 6 by the Israeli military. Amer along with 15-year-old Ayoub Jabara, who is also an American citizen, and Abdulrahman Shihada,15, was also hospitalized following the shooting.

 READ: Palestinian American teen from North Jersey shot and killed in the West Bank

The shooting happened at the entrance of the West Bank town of Turmus Ayya, and the Israeli army pronounced Amer dead after detaining him, Reuters reported citing officials.

The shooting occurred amidst escalating settler violence in the West Bank, including incursions into occupied territory and raids on Bedouin villages and encampments, which has intensified since the Gaza war began in October 2023.

Join CAIR-NJ and CAIR Action NJ in urging members of Congress to call for a full, independent investigation into Amer’s murder and to ensure that U.S. aid is no longer used to violate human rights.

TAKE ACTION: Demand Your Representative to Investigate Killing of U.S. Citizen Amer Rabee by IDF Soldiers

In a statement, CAIR-NJ Executive Director Selaedin Maksut said:

“Amer Rabeea’s tragic killing is a senseless act that underscores the urgent need for accountability in the occupied West Bank. No human life should be taken in vain. It’s been 18 months of the indiscriminate mass murder of Palestinians. We call on New Jersey officials, as well as leaders across the nation, to stand in solidarity with his family and demand justice for this heartbreaking loss of life. The violence against innocent civilians must end.”

AP: Israeli strikes on Gaza kill 32, mostly women and childrenNearly 18,000 children have in Israeli attacks in Gaza, including 274 newborn babies and 876 infants below the age of one year, Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics reported.

Additionally, at least 100 children have been killed or injured every day in Gaza since Israel broke the ceasefire in March, according to the UN.

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

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CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Communications Manager Aya Elamroussi, 551-208-5482, aelamroussi@cair.com

MEDIA ADVISORY: CAIR-NJ Rep to Speak at Princeton University’s Students for Justice in Palestine Press Conference

 (NEWARK, NJ – 4/6/2024) — On Monday, April 7, a representative of the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) plans to speak at a news conference to voice opposition to an event held the Center for Jewish Life at Princeton University featuring former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

Bennett’s visit is part of his tour across North American campuses, including Harvard, Columbia, and Yale, which coincides with the deportations, detainments, and disappearances of students at these same campuses spearheaded by the Trump administration for protesting the US-backed Israeli genocide on the Palestinian people.

Last month at his most recent talk at Harvard University, Bennett joked to hundreds of people about sending explosive devices to dissenting event attendees. The comment was apparently referencing the September Israeli attacks on Lebanon and Syria, where Israel detonated thousands of handheld pagers and walkie talkies among civilians originally intended for members of the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

Bennett: ‘I’ve Killed Lots Of Arabs In My Life And There’s No Problem With That’

WHAT: News conference followed by rally

WHEN: Monday, April 7, 11 a.m. ET

WHERE: Ficus Café, 235 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ

WHO: CAIR-NJ, a New Jersey doctor who volunteered in a Gaza hospital, former Gaza professor who witnessed his university get leveled Israeli airstrikes, among other speakers who will share personal stories.

CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Executive Director Selaedin Maksut, smaksut@cair.com, 908-267-3119

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

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CAIR-NJ Welcomes Sentencing of Man Who Destroyed Property at Rutgers Muslim Chaplaincy House 

(NEWARK, NJ – 4/2/2025) – The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today welcomed the sentencing of a man who broke into the Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University (CILRU) in New Brunswick and thrashed the place nearly a year ago on Eid ul-Fitr.

READ: Suspect  charged with vandalizing Rutgers Islamic center, stealing Palestinian flag during Eid al-Fitr 

Jacob Beacher of North Plainfield, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to a federal hate crime in October 2024 following his April 10, 2024, attack on the Islamic center at Rutgers University known as CILRU, according to a news release from the US Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey.

Beacher had vandalized the Islamic center the night before one of the most festive holidays for Muslims, leaving behind a trail of smashed TVs, destroyed phones, broken printers and appliances in addition to floors littered with glass shards. A Palestinian flag was also missing.

On Tuesday, Beacher was sentenced to six months in prison and a year of supervised release, and ordered to pay more than $19,000 in restitution, after pleading guilty to the charge of damage to religious property. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors agreed not to pursue additional charges for making false statements, which they initially filed against him.

In a statement, CAIR-New Jersey Executive Director Selaedin Maksut said:

“While the sentence brings a degree of accountability, it is important to remember that the impact of this attack extends far beyond the physical damage to property. The fear and trauma caused by such acts of hate cannot be easily measured, and the damage to the sense of safety within our community is not something that can be repaired overnight. However, we are encouraged by the steps taken toward justice, and hope this case serves as a reminder that our communities must remain vigilant against all forms of hate and violence.

“We commend the efforts of law enforcement and prosecutors for their commitment to holding individuals accountable for their actions. Ultimately, this is not just about seeking justice for a specific crime, but about sending a clear message that our shared values of respect, tolerance and inclusion will always outweigh hate and division.

“The Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University is the heart of Muslim life on the New Brunswick campus.  Its desecration, especially on the Islamic holiday of Eid, was deeply disturbing.”

In a victim Impact statement, CILRU described the impact of the targeted attack: “The shock and fear within our campus community were palpable. Our sense of safety was shattered, and our holiday was irrevocably marred.”

“Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate have become pervasive in our society, exacerbated by global events like Israel’s war on Gaza. Reports from members of our campus community who attended school with the defendant revealed that his disdain for Muslims and loyalty to Israel were long-standing. In high school, he reportedly harassed students wearing Muslim religious attire while enrobed an Israeli flag. His Islamophobic behavior appears to have persisted into adulthood, culminating in this violent attack against our Chaplaincy,” Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University Chair Atiya Aftab wrote in the impact statement last month.

Last year, CAIR offices nationwide received a total of 8,658 complaints—the highest number ever recorded since the organization’s first civil rights report in 1996. This marks a 7.4% increase from the 8,061 complaints received in 2023, signaling a worsening climate of anti-Muslim bias.

In New Jersey, education-related complaints were at an all-time high in 2024, highlighting a glaring trend of bias. CAIR-New Jersey documented 53 education-related complaints last year, according to the chapter’s latest Civil Rights Report published this month. That’s up from 35 education bias complaints in 2023.

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

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CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Communications Manager Aya Elamroussi, 551-208-5482, aelamroussi@cair.com