The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), the state’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, celebrated over 20 years of service to New Jersey’s Muslim community at its North Jersey Banquet this past weekend at the Islamic Center of Passaic County.
Congresswoman Analilia Mejia presented a proclamation to CAIR-NJ, which read in part:
“Whereas, CAIR-NJ has provided legal counseling, representation and referrals to more than 2,000 clients, demonstrating its unwavering commitment to defending civil liberties and equal treatment under the law; and
“Whereas, CAIR-NJ has cultivated the next generation of community leaders through nine Muslim Youth Leadership Intensives, equipping nearly 300 young people with the skills and knowledge necessary to become effective civic leaders and advocates; and
“Whereas, CAIR-NJ has strengthened civic awareness through annual Know Your Rights and Civic Advocacy workshops, supported the recognition of Eid holidays in 70 school districts and distributed educational resources to thousands of community members, more than 150 mosques, elected officials and school administrators to foster religious understanding and inclusion;“
The Congresswoman also participated in a fireside chat with local activist, Leqaa Kordia, who spent over one year in ICE detention. Leqaa is a Paterson resident with a pending permanent residency application, who was detained at an ICE check-in in Newark in March 2025 for her participation in protests against Israel’s genocide. The conversation, moderated by CAIR-NJ’s Public Affairs Director, Naureen Akhter, touched on the interconnected struggles of immigrant rights and pro-Palestine activism, and the speakers’ demonstrated courage under incredible pressure.
CAIR National Founder and Executive Director, Nihad Awad, also joined to share his wisdom from decades of leading civil rights work on behalf of American Muslims. Banquet honorees included:
- Reshma Khan, a community organizer who led several Muslim Heritage Month events across Bergen County
- Raed Odeh, Deputy Mayor of the City of Paterson and founding board member of the Palestinian American Community Center
- MUNA Youth New Jersey, a youth-led organization developing leadership through community service, civic engagement and advocacy.
In a statement, CAIR-NJ Executive Director Selaedin Maksut said:
“For over 20 years, our staff, board members, and volunteers have dedicated themselves to fighting Islamophobia and asserting our rights in New Jersey. We have done this through direct legal services, advocacy to state and local institutions, educational events such as Know Your Rights workshops and Muslim Youth Leadership Intensives, and broad distribution of educational materials, such as the Educator’s Guide to Islamic Practices.
“We also successfully led seven Muslim Days of Advocacy in Trenton, mobilizing hundreds of Muslims from across New Jersey, which resulted in defeating an IHRA bill that would have threatened our right to protest. We look forward to the next 20 years, as we continue to build power for New Jersey’s Muslim community.
“We thank Congresswoman Analilia Mejia for her congressional recognition of our work. We also thank the civil rights leaders who joined us: Sister Leqaa Kordia and Brother Nihad Awad. Finally, we thank the over 300 community members, local government leaders including Mayor Andre Sayegh, Assemblymember Al Abdelaziz, Councilmembers Paula Alford and Ibrahim Omar, and our MC, Younes Hadouche, for helping make the evening a success.”
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, [email protected], 908-921-1238