The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations today joined a broad coalition of rights groups and advocates across various fronts to speak during a news conference in opposition to A3558, a bill that would codify the controversial International Holocaust Remembrance Association (IHRA) definition of antisemitism into law.
Speakers addressed the dangers of the IHRA definition of antisemitism because it conflates criticism of Israel and its war crimes as antisemitism, leading to censorship that aims to silences advocacy for Palestinian human rights.
PHOTOS AND VIDEO OF THURSDAY NEWS CONFERENCE
In a statement, Maheen Mumtaz, CAIR-NJ Government Affairs Associate,
“CAIR-New Jersey stands firmly against antisemitism and all forms of bigotry. However, we strongly condemn the bill’s goal to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism into state law. We know for a fact this bill would effectively silence advocacy and activism for Palestinian human rights by falsely conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism. We reject the weaponization of antisemitism for political gains that would only benefit and fuel the ongoing genocide in Gaza.”
Jim Sullivan, ACLU-NJ Deputy Policy Director, echoed the same sentiments:
“ACLU-NJ stands in strong opposition to S1292/A3558 and its adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism. Enshrining this definition into New Jersey law will chill the First Amendment rights of New Jerseyans and set a dangerous precedent for free speech in the state. The IHRA definition of antisemitism conflates protected political speech with unprotected discrimination. The definition threatens to prohibit speech based on viewpoint alone. To be clear, the ability to criticize governments and their policies, including Israel’s government, is protected political speech. Because the IHRA definition is overbroad, passage of this bill would significantly chill the exercise of free speech and protests, rights guaranteed for all by the First Amendment.”
Asma Elhuni, a representative with American Muslims for Palestine-NJ, said:
“Leqaa Kordia is being held in detention simply for speaking about the genocide of her family in Gaza. That’s exactly what the IHRA definition enables: punishing truth-telling while claiming to fight hate. Real justice means protecting people, not silencing them.”
Donna Ristorucci with Jewish Voice for Peace – Northern New Jersey said:
“The controversy over IHRA legislation is not a Muslim vs Jewish thing, as it has widely been portrayed. The Jewish Federations, which have been lobbying for it in New Jersey for years, do not speak for all Jews. There are many thousands of us who oppose it. There are more than half a dozen Jewish organizations representing thousands Jewish constituents who oppose the adoption of IHRA and have joined the NJ Coalition for Free Speech.”
Ali Aljarrah, CAIR-Action NJ Senior Advisor, said:
“Antisemitism is real and must be confronted wherever it appears. But codifying the IHRA definition into state law risks confusing the fight against hate with the regulation of speech. As civil-rights advocates, we’ve seen how vague standards can chill academic inquiry and legitimate political debate—especially for educators, students, and workers engaging with issues of human rights. New Jersey can and should combat antisemitism while upholding the same constitutional protections that safeguard every community’s voice.”
READ: By Adopting the IHRA Definition of Antisemitism, Universities are Sacrificing Academic Freedom — Kenneth Stern
According to Kenneth Stern, director of the Bard Center for the Study of Hate and lead drafter of the IHRA Definition, the “working definition has been primarily used (and I argue, grossly abused) to suppress and chill pro-Palestinian speech.” Stern argues that the definition was drafted as a tool for data collection and was never intended to be used in legislation.
Speakers at the news conference included:
Ali Aljarrah, Senior Advisor to CAIR Action
Ana Paola, executive director of Resistencia en Accion NJ
Asma Elhuni, an organizer with American Muslims for Palestine NJ
Charlene Walker, executive director of Faith in NJ
Chris Sotiro, Deputy Executive Director of Climate Revolution Action Network
Dena Mottola Jaborska, Associate Director, associate director of Citizen Action NJ
Donna Ristorucci, a member of Jewish Voice for Peace of Northern New Jersey
Haliema Twam, civic engagement and advocacy manager for the Palestinian American Community Center
Heather Pierce, president of Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union
Jim Sullivan, deputy policy director of the ACLU of NJ
Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss of Neturei Karta International
Rev. Erich Kussman of St. Bartholemew Church
Saffet Catovic, Director of the United Nations Operations for Justice for All
Selaedin Maksut, Executive Director of Council on American-Islamic Relations
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: Aya Elamroussi, aelamroussi@cair.com, 551-208-5482