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CAIR-New Jersey Names Selaedin Maksut as New Executive Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ, 12/26/2019) – The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), the state office of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today announced that Selaedin Maksut has been named as its new Executive Director.
Before joining CAIR-New Jersey, Maksut received his BA from New York University in Middle Eastern & Islamic Studies, and his MA from Columbia University in Religious Studies. Throughout the past six years, Maksut has traveled to countries like Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, and Kosovo to study the religion of Islam and Muslim societies in academic and traditional settings.
In addition to his studies, Maksut gained community leadership and non-profit experience while volunteering with The Muslim Network, a New Jersey-based non-profit, for the past three years. Maksut currently serves as the Vice President of The Muslim Network.
“I welcome this opportunity to serve the Muslim community in New Jersey and to further CAIR’s mission of advocating for justice and mutual understanding,” said Maksut. “As our nation witnesses a rise in Islamophobia and right-wing extremism threatening people of different faiths and backgrounds, I am proud to be joining CAIR to protect the civil rights and religious freedom of Muslims and other minorities in New Jersey.”
CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Executive Director Selaedin Maksut, 908-668-5900, 862-264-9414, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
CAIR-NJ Welcomes New Driver’s Licenses for All Legislation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CAIR-NJ Welcomes New Driver’s Licenses for All Legislation
(SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ, 12/19/2019) – The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), today welcomed Governor Phil Murphy’s signing of legislation that expands access to driver's licenses for undocumented state residents.
This week, the state Democrat-led Assembly and Senate passed the measure after lawmakers delayed considering the bill until after last month's election. Governor Murphy signed the bill today.
Thirteen states, including Delaware and New York, and the District of Columbia permit immigrants without legal status to obtain driver’s licenses.
SEE: NJ Governor Phil Murphy Signs Bill Allowing Undocumented Immigrants Get Licenses
SEE: NJ legislators OK licenses for undocumented immigrants, send bill to Gov. Phil Murphy
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.northjersey.com/amp/2640554001
In a statement, CAIR-NJ Executive Director Selaedin Maksut said:
“As a civil rights organization, we welcome this historic legislation expanding access to driver’s licenses to all New Jerseyans, regardless of immigration status. We thank the Let's Drive NJ coalition partners -- including Make the Road NJ, Faith in NJ -- and Assemblywoman Annette Quijano and Senator Vitale for their leadership.
“The new law is the embodiment of dignity and respect for all people regardless of immigration status. We are excited to have New Jersey join a growing number of states that share in this progressive sentiment and celebrate this victory for the expansion of rights to state residents.”
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Executive Director Selaedin Maksut, 908-668-5900, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
CAIR-NJ Expresses Solidarity with the Jewish Community After ‘Targeted’ Jersey City Shooting
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ, 12/11/19) – The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today expressed solidarity with the Jewish community following the targeted attack on a Jewish Kosher deli in Jersey City on Tuesday.
Police in New Jersey say a Jewish supermarket was the target of a gun attack that left six people dead, including the two suspects. Police say the perpetrators reportedly stopped in front of the deli, “calmly opened the door with two long rifles—him and the other perpetrator—and began firing from the street into the facility.” They say the shooting “was a targeted attack on the Jewish kosher deli.”
The attackers have not yet been publicly identified, but New York media has identified them as David Anderson and Francine Graham. Sources tell NBC that Anderson was a follower of the Black Hebrew Israelite movement, whose believers say they are the true descendants of ancient Israelites.
SEE: Jersey City Shooting Was 'A Targeted Attack on the Jewish Kosher Deli'
New Jersey killers 'targeted' Jewish supermarket
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50747374
In a statement, CAIR-NJ Executive Director Jim Sues said:
“We stand in solidarity with our Jewish sisters and brothers and ask people of all faiths and backgrounds to repudiate the hatred that apparently motivated this heinous attack. As a diverse community, we must not allow hatred to be fueled against any person or group.
“We thank local law enforcement authorities for their swift response and offer our condolences to the family of the slain Jersey City police officer and to the loved ones of all those killed or injured."
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Executive Director James Sues, 908-668-5900, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; CAIR-NJ Deputy Executive Director Selaedin Maksut, 908-668-5900, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
CAIR-NJ Condemns Anti-Semitic Flyers Left on Vehicles in Evesham Township
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CAIR-NJ Condemns Anti-Semitic Flyers Left on Vehicles in Evesham Township
(SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ, 10/14/2019) -- The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned racist and anti-Semitic flyers found on several vehicles parked outside an Evesham Township restaurant.
The incident took place Thursday night, Oct. 10, in the parking lots of the AMC movie theater and Fleming’s Steakhouse on S. Route 73. Three separate flyers have been passed around, but police are searching for one suspect.
SEE: Anti-Semitic Fliers Left on Several Vehicles Parked Outside Evesham Township Restaurant, Movie Theater
"The hatred, ignorance and anti-Semitism that these flyers represent has no place in New Jersey and should not be tolerated by its residents and local officials,” said James Sues, executive director of CAIR-NJ. “This painful reminder of the extreme divisiveness that characterizes the current political climate at the national level should prompt us to remain vigilant in investigating and prosecuting hate crimes as they occur.”
He noted that CAIR has reported an unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting American Muslims, immigrants and members of other marginalized groups since the election of Donald Trump as president.
SEE: CAIR Calls for Hate Crime Probe of Racist ‘N-Word’ Slur Found on Virginia Vehicle
https://www.cair.com/cair_calls_for_hate_crime_probe_of_racist_n_word_slur_found_on_virginia_vehicle
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Executive Director James Sues, 908-668-5900, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
CAIR-New Jersey Welcomes Hate Crime Investigation in South Brunswick Attack
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CAIR-New Jersey Welcomes Hate Crime Investigation in South Brunswick Attack
(SOUTH PLAINFIELD, N.J., 10/4/2019) – The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-New Jersey) today welcomed the investigation into an incident where a man verbally attacked an 11-year-old boy on Cambridge Elementary School playground on Tuesday, October 1st, in South Brunswick, New Jersey.
Racha Zeini, mother of the boy, posted about the incident on Facebook and writes that the man told her son to “move your a** out of this country, you are an (expletive) Indian come to our country to steal our jobs and money.”
See: South Brunswick Mom: Son Told To 'Move Your A** Out' Of Country
https://patch.com/new-jersey/southbrunswick/south-brunswick-mom-son-told-move-your-out-country
“Community members, and especially young children, in this state have a right to safety and security while on school premises, and it is the duty of faculty, administrators and law enforcement to ensure that right.” said CAIR New Jersey Executive Director, Jim Sues. “Hateful, and bigoted speech such as was witnessed in this case should never be tolerated, and the laws that protect our citizens from these offenses should be strictly enforced. We welcome the South Brunswick Police Departments efforts to identify the perpetrator of this apparent hate crime.”
Sues also noted that CAIR has reported an unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting American Muslims and members of other minority groups since the election of Donald Trump as president.
CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Executive Director James Sues, 908-668-5900, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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