5/8/2024
To New Jersey Officials and University Presidents,
We, the undersigned mosques representing hundreds of thousands of constituents in New Jersey, are writing to express our concern regarding student engagement at our state's universities, particularly concerning the recent student encampments.
We believe in our country’s constitution and the fundamental right to free speech and peaceful protest. These fundamental rights are the cornerstones of a healthy democracy, allowing students to raise awareness about the genocide in Gaza of over 35,000 humans, mostly women and children, should be a cause of deep concern for all communities. The killing of children, women in the tens of thousands in Gaza has no justification and rational. Protesting it is certainly not Anti-Semitism. Sadly, quashing the peaceful protest under this weaponized Anti-Semitism pretext it is not only Islamophobia, but it violates the bill of rights under our constitution. The tragedy of our highest institutions of learning quashing these fundamental rights cannot be overstated.
Throughout American history, college campuses have served as crucibles for social change. From the anti-war movement against Vietnam to the fight to end apartheid in South Africa, students have consistently been at the forefront of progress, often pushing university administrations and national leaders to confront critical issues. Today, we stand at a similar precipice.
We applaud the Rutgers University administration for prioritizing open dialogue with students. By meeting with them, the administration demonstrates a commitment to understanding student concerns and working towards solutions. This collaborative approach sets a strong example for fostering a more inclusive and respectful campus environment.
We urge New Jersey government officials to publicly affirm the resolution reached between the Rutgers University administration and students.
We are appalled by the reported actions of the Princeton University administration. Their refusal to engage with students regarding their demands, coupled with the arrests of protestors and the lack of basic accommodations during the encampment, demonstrates a disregard for student well being and a fundamental right to free speech. This complete breakdown in communication is deeply concerning.
We urge the Princeton University administration and specifically President Eisgruber to follow Rutgers' lead and engage in a meaningful dialogue with students. By engaging in open dialogue with students, Princeton can uphold its longstanding commitment to fostering intellectual discourse and social responsibility. A continued refusal to meet will only serve to escalate tensions and undermine trust between students and the administration. We believe a productive conversation is not only possible but necessary to move forward.
We call upon the Princeton University leadership to demonstrate a genuine commitment to student concerns by:
We urge the New Jersey government officials to investigate the reported incidents at Princeton University, particularly regarding student harassment and arrests for expressing their First Amendment Right to oppose the genocide. We believe all students deserve to exercise their right to free speech and peaceful assembly in a safe and secure environment.
Regards,
New Jersey Muslim Coalition
New Jersey Muslim Coalition Signees
Majlis Ash-Shura of New York:
Religious Organizations:
Law and Bar Associations
Civil Rights Groups
Faculty and Educational Institutions
Advocacy Groups
Professional Associations
March. 12, 2024
As houses of worship and religious institutions, it is non-negotiable that we stand resolutely united during this period of genocide, unwavering in our commitment to principles of peace, compassion, and justice for all humanity.
Given the ongoing tragedy in Palestine, we strongly urge leaders to exercise extreme caution when extending invitations to politicians in our sacred spaces for Ramadan and other events who have not publicly endorsed a ceasefire in Palestine. If any politicians are to attend, the community members must be allowed, without fear of reprisal, to voice all their concerns openly and freely.
This unwavering stance aligns us unequivocally with the urgent necessity of prioritizing humanitarian relief for our brethren over any political considerations.
Especially as Ramadan approaches, we must create environments that embody not just a robust spiritual environment, but an unwavering in humanity, empathy, and decisive actions aimed at halting the genocide and mitigating the monumental suffering inflicted upon the people of Palestine.
Engagement remains a priority, but it cannot overshadow our steadfast determination to advocate for peace and the well-being of all our brothers and sisters facing oppression, especially those in Palestine, even if it requires drawing clear boundaries.
Sincerely,
New Jersey Muslim Coalition
New Jersey Muslim Coalition Signees
Majlis Ash-Shura of New York:
Religious Organizations:
Law and Bar Associations
Civil Rights Groups
Faculty and Educational Institutions
Advocacy Groups
Professional Associations
Jan. 12, 2024
Dear University President,
As a collective of the New Jersey Muslim Coalition, Majlis Ash-Shura of New York, religious institutions, civil rights organizations, bar associations, faculty and individuals dedicated to the principles of justice and moral integrity, we pen this letter in a spirit of solidarity and support for academic institutions that stood firm against political harassment. Our aim is to underscore the imperative of upholding the constitutional rights of free expression and academic independence in the face of governmental pressure.
We commend universities which have shown commitment to fostering an environment of open dialogue and critical thinking, even under the strain of the problematic intense political scrutiny and external pressures. Their stance in these challenging times is not only admirable but also essential in preserving the integrity of academic freedom. The recent ordeals faced by the presidents of Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania serve as a stark reminder of an alarming trend of the strategic weaponization of antisemitism allegations to silence and punish those voicing concerns over violation of human rights and humanitarian law as the Israeli government commits genocide against Palestinian civilians. This practice not only distorts the gravity of true antisemitism but erodes the bedrock of academic freedom and free speech as well.
This misuse of antisemitism is used as a tool to serve the interest of a foreign government. This practice infringes upon people's constitutional rights which is not only unpatriotic but detrimental to the United States' interest in protecting the rights of its citizens and institutions. When criticism of Israeli government policies is equated with antisemitism, it blurs this legal distinction, threatening the fundamental democratic value of free expression. The conflation of the two serves only to silence important voices and hinders the pursuit of truth and justice.
We must express our deep concern over the growing trend of government interference in academic discourse. This intrusion not only erodes the foundational principles enshrined in the U.S. Constitution but also threatens the independence of educational institutions. When government entities exert undue pressure on universities, it stifles the free exchange of ideas and undermines the very essence of a democratic society.
This governmental overreach has also exacerbated the rise of Islamophobia, particularly affecting Muslim students who face intimidation and harassment for expressing their views against injustices, including genocide. Such tactics are not only illegal and immoral but pose a grave danger to the fabric of our society as well. It is crucial to recognize and address the fact that Muslim students, in exercising their constitutional rights, are increasingly becoming targets of bigotry, discrimination, suspensions and other grave adverse actions.
Together, we strive towards a future where the exchange of ideas is celebrated, and the rights of all individuals, regardless of their faith or background, are upheld with the utmost respect and dignity. We stand in solidarity with these universities and assure them of our unwavering support. We call upon all concerned parties to respect the autonomy of academic institutions and the constitutional rights of individuals. We urge a recommitment to the principles of free speech and academic freedom, free from governmental interference and the shadow of bigotry. Speaking the truth about the genocide which should be condemned is not antisemitism. In contrast, the use of antisemitism as a weapon to stifle justice for the Palestinian civilians who are massacred with impunity exposes the supremacy attitude that Palestinians do not deserve the human dignity afforded to others. Such attitude cannot withstand justice and rule of law.
Sincerely,
New Jersey Muslim Coalition
New Jersey Muslim Coalition Signees
Majlis Ash-Shura of New York:
Religious Organizations:
Law and Bar Associations
Civil Rights Groups
Faculty and Educational Institutions
Advocacy Groups
Professional Associations
November 13, 2023
In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
To New Jersey Legislators,
We – the undersigned Islamic Centers and advocacy organizations from throughout New Jersey – write to our New Jersey Legislative representatives to urge you to individually and collectively call for an immediate ceasefire to end the carnage inflicted on innocent Palestinian civilians. We ask that you join the vast majority of the world’s nations, UN Secretary General António Guterres, organizations like Doctors without Borders and Save the Children and the millions upon millions of Americans marching and advocating for peace and justice the world over.
New Jersey has the largest per capita (3-5%) Muslim American and Palestinian American (Christian & Muslim) population in the nation. It is incumbent on you all to recognize the voices of this incredibly diverse and growing community along with allies from all races, religions and backgrounds that demand Palestinian lives be treated as equal to Israeli lives. And it is essential to act quickly as death and destruction has hit home with many state residents including a Franklin Borough Board of Education member, the religious leader of the state’s largest Islamic Center, and many other people each having dozens of family members killed in Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, many of whom were children. Dozens of state residents also remain trapped and unable to safely pass through the only international border crossing.
Keeping this crisis and its impact on the people of New Jersey in mind, we have four asks that will show that our state upholds the values of freedom and dignity for ail:
We fully understand that you primarily focus on state and local issues and that for many Israel / Palestine is not an area of expertise. Nevertheless, many of you issued statements lacking any acknowledgement of the humanity or even existence of Palestinians and devoid of the context of the lived experience of Palestinians who have suffered under Israeli military occupation for 50+ years. These statements continue a long campaign to dehumanize the Palestinian people. The thousands upon thousands of mostly women and children killed or wounded in this conflict are more than faceless numbers. They have dreams and aspirations to live life like other human beings.
We ask that you engage with your local Palestinian, Arab and Muslim populations to deepen your understanding of their realities. Speak with the many Jewish, Christian, and other peace activists calling for a ceasefire as well. We noted important reference materials in the attached letter to our federal delegation which includes reports from renowned human rights organizations detailing the Israeli occupation and a current bill in the US Congress that demands that Israel end its practice of arresting and prosecuting Palestinian children through their military court system. Please read the reference materials and judge for yourself.
As previously noted, we remain committed to the principles of equality and justice and hope that we can find a path forward working with you and our national leadership to foster a humane, equitable, and constructive approach based on International Law to bring peace to the Israeli and Palestinian people.
Sincerely,
New Jersey Muslim Coalition
New Jersey Muslim Coalition Signees
In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
We pray that God, the Most Glorified, the Most High brings peace and security to all of his creation so that we can fulfill his promise that He “created man from a male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another”.
To New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Federal Senators and Representatives,
We, the undersigned Islamic Centers from throughout New Jersey, write you to express our profound disappointment in your reluctance to call for a ceasefire to end this carnage of innocent Palestinian civilians. We are also concerned about the role in part that you played in the dehumanization campaign of the Palestinian people indicating that they are less worthy than others of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Your initial statements in particular were devoid of any context and largely ignored the reality of death, despair and destruction long befalling millions of innocent Palestinian civilians. These statements and those of our national leaders have also put the lives of Muslim, Arab and Palestinian Americans in jeopardy including a rise in Islamophobia and putting our constitutional rights at risk as our students and professionals are subject to intimidation and harassment. As concerned citizens who value justice and peace on a global scale, we feel compelled to express our concerns about the direction of the one-sided support that you have provided.
With that said, we reached out to the incredibly diverse voices in our community and the overwhelming response to how we move forward is to demand the following from our elected representatives:
The Muslim American community has worked tirelessly for decades to deepen its civic engagement with the belief that the United States, as a champion of democracy and human rights, would play a critical role in fostering a fair and just resolution to the complex issues facing our country, including those that have plagued the Middle East for decades. Members of our centers have met with you in civic spaces, homes, and places of business to engage in what they thought were serious dialogues on topics of concern to the Muslim community.
We now address you as bellwethers of a changing tide of sentiment between the Muslim community and our elected representatives. This division will mark a significant shift in public opinion of elected officials who are supposed to represent members of the Muslim community on issues affecting them. To date, only Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman has shown the courage and integrity to stand with the rest of the world’s voices (120 countries) and vote for an immediate ceasefire.
Regarding Palestine, we have explained and documented the oppressive and violent 50+ year occupation of Palestinian lands. The Israeli Government has perpetrated numerous and well documented crimes against humanity, collective punishment, and inhumane treatment of the occupied civilian population that it is required to protect under international law. In one case we asked for the absolute minimum of helping to protect Palestinian children from being subjected to military detention in grave violation of International, Humanitarian and US Law. We presented you with a current congressional resolution (H.R. 3103) Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act. The resolution notes the Israeli military detains 500 to 700 Palestinian children between the ages of 12 and 17 EACH YEAR and prosecutes them before a military court system that lacks basic and fundamental guarantees of due process. Your continued silence to the plight of these children foretold your silence as the now more than three thousand and counting children (800 under the age of 4) who have been mercilessly killed with this so called “precision” bombing campaign.
We are also troubled by actions like when Senator Booker cites AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL in referencing the human rights violations committed by Hamas but ignores the same organization’s detailed 280 page report titled “Israel’s Apartheid against Palestinians”. Other leading human rights organizations including Israel’s own B’tselem have echoed the findings. We ask that you all please turn to the proverbial next page to read and analyze the report and cascade to your respective staffs.
We urge you as representatives of the largest per capita (3-5% of the population) Muslim American community in the country to stand for justice and support a balanced approach that promotes peace. We remain disheartened that your voices have largely been silent but alternatively heartened by the overwhelming response from people around the world, touching nearly every country, race, religion and background. We have confidence in the power of these worldwide voices crying out for peace and justice will be heeded by our leaders to find a lasting and durable solution for all of the people of the Holy Land.
We also note that in the meetings and discussions we have had with some of you over the past several weeks we have had our own humanity and morality questioned. Our response is clear and unequivocal, we believe in the infallible words of God written in the Glorious Quran which condemns ANYONE who takes an innocent life, irrespective of whether that life is Jewish, Christian, Muslim, or any other faith tradition. A more apropos question is: what humanity or morality does any leader have who remains silent and does not condemn a government that our taxes fund that openly states that it will starve 2.3 million people of which 70% are women and/or children under the age of 16?
In closing, we are certain that the path forward cannot look like the past, as much damage has been done by our elected representatives. Our faith in God Almighty, and that in His infinite wisdom, He will rightly guide us and our community and we will work in a unified way to ensure that our voices and our humanity are uplifted in a way that brings good to all who live and love this great nation. We remain committed to the principles of equality and justice and hope that we can find a path forward working with you and our national leadership to foster a more balanced and constructive approach based on International Law to bring peace to the Israeli and Palestinian people.
Sincerely,
New Jersey Muslim Coalition
New Jersey Muslim Coalition Signees
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