April 2026 – CAIR NJ

CAIR-NJ Visits Capitol Hill for National Muslim Days of Advocacy

(Washington, D.C. — 4/22/26) — The New Jersey Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, along with Young Muslims (YM) led a delegation of nearly 100 constituents from New Jersey to Capitol Hill for the 11th Annual #MuslimHillDay.

Every year, CAIR-NJ, as part of the broader United States Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO), meets with House and Senate offices to advocate for ways to strengthen and protect Muslim American communities. This year, the New Jersey delegation met with 8 of our elected Representatives’ and Senators’ offices to ask them to:

Oppose the anti-Muslim Caucus and discriminatory legislation;
Defend free speech, and protect immigrant communities;
End endless wars and reassert congressional war powers.

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

“While on the Hill, one of our 15-year-old advocates was told to go back home – highlighting the type of Islamophobia our community experiences every day. We urged our elected officials to lead the fight against Islamophobia, protect our constitutionally guaranteed right to protest, and to use their Congressional authority to end the war in Iran and stop further arms transfers to Israel. We were happy to have met with 8 of our elected officials and/or staff. We encourage Representatives Norcross, Gottheimer, Smith, Van Drew and Kean Jr. to meet with their constituents to better understand the challenges we face every day.”

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

END

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

Press Releases

April 16, 2026 Nadine Rouba

CAIR-NJ Welcomes Senators Booker and Kim’s ‘Yes’ Votes to Block $660 Million in Arms Sales to Israel

CAIR-NJ Welcomes Senators Booker and Kim’s ‘Yes’ Votes to Block $660 Million in Arms Sales to Israel

(Newark, NJ — 4/16/26) — The New Jersey Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, welcomes Senator Booker and Kim ‘Yes’ votes on S.J. Res. 32 and 138 to block $660 million in arms sales to Israel.

Previously, Senator Booker voted against Joint Resolutions of Disapproval of weapons sales to Israel in July 2025. If passed, those resolutions would have blocked the sale of $675 million worth of bombs and assault rifles.

SEE: How did Cory Booker, Andy Kim vote on blocking arms sales to Israel?

Now, with the U.S. and Israel’s unconstitutional war in Iran, both Senators agree we must use every tool available to reign in this administration. Blocking weapons transfers and passing a War Powers resolution are critical ways for Congress to assert its constitutional authority.

SEE: Senator Andy Kim Statement after Vote on Joint Resolutions of Disapproval

SEE: Booker Statement on Joint Resolutions of Disapproval

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

“With their ‘Yes’ votes on S.J. Res. 32 and 138, Senators Booker and Kim sent a clear message about New Jersey’s values: no more endless wars abroad while Americans at home suffer at the hands of this administration.

Since the commencement of this illegal war in Iran and Lebanon, the U.S. and Israel have killed thousands of innocent civilians and destroyed critical infrastructure. Our Senators must continue to stand firmly against this senseless killing and destruction.”

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

Press Releases

April 14, 2026 CAIR New Jersey

CAIR-NJ to Join Taxpayers Against Genocide in Trenton to Protest Continued Misuse of Taxpayer Dollars for War and Genocide

CAIR-NJ to Join Taxpayers Against Genocide in Trenton to Protest Continued Misuse of Taxpayer Dollars for War and Genocide

(Newark, NJ — 4/14/26) — The New Jersey Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, to join Taxpayers Against Genocide (TAG) and a broad coalition of community groups to protest the billions of our tax dollars the U.S. government is spending on war abroad and state sanctioned violence at home.

By convening on Tax Day, CAIR-NJ and Taxpayers Against Genocide are calling attention to the immoral deployment of our tax dollars and advocating for a total divestment from violence. Our leaders in Trenton can pave the way by disinvesting in Israeli bonds and Palantir Technologies – two entities that are either carrying out or enabling war crimes and gross human rights violations. Taxpayers Against Genocide (TAG) is dedicated to ending the use of our taxes to fund genocide and human rights violations in Palestine and elsewhere.

WHERE: New Jersey State House, Trenton

WHEN: Wednesday, April 15th, 4pm

LIVESTREAM: CAIR-NJ Instagram

In a statement, CAIR-NJ Operations Director Dyaa Terpstra said:

“With Taxpayers Against Genocide, we are calling upon our legislators to make a lasting and impactful change by divesting our taxpayer dollars from organizations and countries that contribute to mass genocide and unethical wars.

We do not want our taxpayer money to be funding various human rights violations, wars, genocides, ICE, and the overall destruction of our planet. It’s time that we stand together, on Tax Day, to speak out against the misusage of our money, and that we have a say in where it goes.”

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

END

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

Press Releases

April 1, 2026April 1, 2026 CAIR New Jersey

CAIR-NJ, AMP-NJ, and Ceasefire Now NJ to Rally Against Escalating Anti-Muslim Rhetoric, Demand Officials to Condemn Targeted Violence Against Nerdeen Kiswani

MEDIA ADVISORY

CAIR-NJ, AMP-NJ, and Ceasefire Now NJ to Rally Against Escalating Anti-Muslim Rhetoric, Demand Officials to Condemn Targeted Violence Against Nerdeen Kiswani

(Newark, NJ, 4/1/26) — The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, American Muslims for Palestine NJ and Ceasefire Now NJ to host a press conference and rally to demand that elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels take immediate steps to rein in escalating anti-Muslim rhetoric and explicitly condemn the planned and targeted violence against Nerdeen Kiswani.

Speakers will address the dangerous climate of incitement, the normalization of dehumanizing language, and the urgent need for accountability.

WHO: Speakers include

Dyaa Terpstra, Operations Director, CAIR-NJ
Hafsa Habehh, Media Manager, AMP-NJ
A statement from Nerdeen Kiswani
Kathy Koch, Jewish Voice for Peace, Ceasefire Now NJ and Hoboken resident
Emily Wirt, Justice for PAL and Hoboken resident

WHEN: Thursday, April 2nd, 2026 at 11AM EDT

WHERE: Outside of Hoboken City Hall, 94 Washington St., Hoboken, NJ 07030

CONTACT: Dyaa Terpstra, CAIR-NJ Operations Director, 908-668-5900 ext. 102, dterpstra@cair.com, Hafsa Habehh, AMP-NJ Media Manager, ampnj@ampalestine.org

WHY?

For nearly a year, organizations such as Betar and federal officials like Josh Gottheimer, along with Randy Fine, Andy Ogles, and Tommy Tuberville, have promoted and directed hostility with impunity toward Muslims, Palestinians, and advocates for Palestinian liberation. As a direct result, Alexander Heifler, of Hoboken, NJ, allegedly plotted to take the life of Nerdeen Kiswani via a heinous plot that was “about to” take place. Heifler, who allegedly planned to flee to Israel after committing murder, is only charged with making an explosive device and possession of a weapon; which, are NOT enough. Media coverage of the arrest has largely ignored what led to this alleged plot, and officials have not publicly made the connection. We call on Hoboken officials, NJ State officials, and NJ’s delegation to Congress condemn this rise in hate and act to address the immediate harms with vigor. When they leave their colleagues and extremist organizations like Betar unchecked, Muslims continue to be left in grave danger.

The alleged assassin and Pro-Israel extremist, Alexander Heifler, is a resident of Hoboken, NJ, and local officials have not done enough to condemn the anti-Muslim rhetoric and his alleged plot.

QUOTE: “For months, Zionist organizations like Betar and politicians like Randy Fine have encouraged violence against my family and me.”- Nerdeen Kiswani

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

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Apr Archives

CAIR-NJ Visits Capitol Hill for National Muslim Days of Advocacy

CAIR-NJ Welcomes Senators Booker and Kim’s ‘Yes’ Votes to Block $660 Million in Arms Sales to Israel

CAIR-NJ to Join Taxpayers Against Genocide in Trenton to Protest Continued Misuse of Taxpayer Dollars for War and Genocide

CAIR-NJ, AMP-NJ, and Ceasefire Now NJ to Rally Against Escalating Anti-Muslim Rhetoric, Demand Officials to Condemn Targeted Violence Against Nerdeen Kiswani

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