Muslim civil rights and advocacy group plans to host press conference at Paterson City Hall at 11:30 am today, Dec. 23, 2025.
(PATERSON, NJ, 12/23/2025) – This morning, the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, plans to hold a press conference today at Paterson City Hall alongside Mayor Andre Sayegh and other community leaders to condemn Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s defamatory and dangerous smear of Paterson and its American Muslim residents.
WHAT: Press Conference
WHEN: Tuesday, December 23, 11:30 AM
WHERE: Paterson City Hall
155 Market Street, Paterson, NJ
WHY: To respond to dangerous and inflammatory remarks falsely portraying Muslims in Paterson as a threat to American freedom
CONTACT: Selaedin Maksut Executive Director, CAIR-NJ, smaksut@cair.com, 862-264-9414
SPEAKERS:
• Selaedin Maksut, Executive Director, CAIR-NJ
• Paterson, NJ Mayor Andre Sayegh
• Local Muslim community leaders
Yesterday, CAIR’s national office condemned Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard’s rant against American Muslims and Islam during a Turning Point USA conference over the weekend as “delusional” and “disqualifying.”
During a speech at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest on December 20, Gabbard falsely claimed that Muslims in Paterson are plotting to impose “sharia law” and “Islamic principles” on the city through legal or violent means. CAIR-NJ says these claims are baseless, dangerous, and contribute to anti-Muslim hate and discrimination.
Speakers plan to address the media regarding the real-world consequences of this rhetoric, clarify what sharia actually means, and call on elected officials to reject fearmongering that targets Muslim communities.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
END
CONTACT: Selaedin Maksut Executive Director, CAIR-NJ, smaksut@cair.com, 862-264-9414