(WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/2/23) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, along with the New Jersey chapter of CAIR (CAIR-New Jersey), today joined 40 other state and national Muslim organizations and community partners in announcing a joint letter to the White House calling on the administration to apologize for and rectify harm caused by the Secret Service’s revocation of the invitation extended to Muslim Mayor Mohamed T. Khairullah of Prospect Park, NJ, to attend the White House’s annual Eid al-Fitr celebration on May 1.
The revocation came despite the fact that Mayor Khairullah had assisted the New Jersey Democratic Party in compiling a list of local Muslim leaders to invite to the event.
CLICK HERE: Read the 42 Muslim Organization, Community Partners Letter to the White House
In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“We stand united as 42 Muslim organizations and community partners in demanding a formal apology from the White House for the revoked invitation to Mayor Mohamed Khairullah to the annual Eid al-Fitr celebration. The decision to deny Mayor Khairullah entry raises serious concerns about the discriminatory practices embedded within the watchlist system. It is imperative for the Biden administration to fulfill its commitment to transparency and justice by providing a clear explanation for the denial of Mayor Khairullah’s participation in this important event.”
In a statement, CAIR New Jersey Executive Director Selaedin Maksut said:
“It is time the White House acknowledged the harm caused and demonstrated a genuine commitment to rectifying the situation. We urge the Biden administration to uphold its promise to reform the watchlist system and foster an environment of inclusivity, where no individual is unjustly targeted or marginalized based on their faith or ethnicity. The administration should act swiftly to address this issue and dismantle the watchlist, ensuring the protection of civil rights and religious freedom for all.”
BACKGROUNDER ON THE LETTER AND INCIDENT
Video: CAIR-NJ, Mayors Announce Response to Secret Service Banning Mayor Khairullah from White House
CAIR-NJ: Prospect Park Mayor Khairullah Discusses Watchlist, Targeting of Muslims
The letter stated that just moments before Mayor Khairullah was set to arrive at the White House ceremony, celebrating the conclusion of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan with President Biden and his administration, he received a call stating that his invitation was effectively revoked due to a lack of security clearance.
CAIR and CAIR New Jersey firmly believe that Mayor Khairullah was disinvited due to his past placement on a discriminatory and unconstitutional watchlist, as evidenced by their cross-referencing of his name and birthdate to an undisclosed 2019 copy of the watchlist.
The watchlist, distributed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to various agencies, companies, and organizations, unjustly stigmatizes thousands of U.S. citizens, predominantly Muslims. CAIR’s thorough examination of the FBI’s undisclosed 2019 watchlist, comprising over 1.5 million entries, reveals that more than 98 percent of those listed are Muslims. Over 350,000 entries consist of names such as Mohamed, Ali, Mahmoud, and similar variants. The letter emphasizes the need to reflect upon whether the tolerance for a covert government list targeting any other religious community, ethnic group, or nationality would prevail.
The letter also expresses support for Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ), as well as U.S. Congressman Bill Pascrell’s (D-NJ-9) joint request to the White House for answers regarding this incident.
In response to this incident, local and national American Muslim community leadership and community partners urged the Biden administration to take immediate action by:
1.) Issuing a public apology to Mayor Mohamed T. Khairullah for the disinvitation, recognizing the negative impact and distress caused by such actions.
2.) Initiating a comprehensive review of Mayor Khairullah’s security status to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. This review should ensure that individuals are not unjustly targeted or subjected to discriminatory treatment based on their religion, ethnicity, or race.
3.) Extending a new invitation to Mayor Khairullah, providing an opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue with White House officials and discuss the tangible harms caused by watchlists. This gesture would signify a commitment to fostering inclusivity and recognizing the valuable contributions of American Muslims.
4.) Ultimately disbanding watchlists that have consistently proven to be discriminatory, unconstitutional, and ineffective. It is crucial to take this step toward upholding justice, fairness, and equality.
During his presidential campaign, President Biden rightfully pledged to conduct a comprehensive review of the “watchlist” and “no-fly list” processes within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with the objective of improving these procedures to facilitate the removal of names.
On Friday, May 19, CAIR New Jersey joined mayors and elected officials across New Jersey in a call to action urging the White House and Secret Service to provide a detailed explanation of their sudden and baseless revocation of Mayor Mohamed T. Khairullah’s White House Eid event invitation earlier this month.
Following the incident, CAIR New Jersey publicly condemned the Secret Service’s perceived profiling of New Jersey’s longest-serving Muslim mayor, Mohamed T. Khairullah of Prospect Park, and the revocation of his invitation to the White House Eid celebration.
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 National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com, CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com