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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CAIR 'Disappointed' with Review of NYPD Spying on NJ Muslims

(SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ, 5/24/12) ­- The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today said it is "disappointed" with the state attorney general's apparent approval of the New York Police Department's (NYPD) warrantless surveillance of law-abiding Muslims.

A representative of CAIR-NJ, along with other American Muslim leaders, took part in a meeting this afternoon at Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa's office in Trenton to discuss concerns about the widespread spying conducted by the NYPD on the Muslim community in New Jersey.

Other government officials participating in the meeting included representatives of the New Jersey State Police, the Department of Homeland Security and the Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Among the topics discussed at the meeting were the status of New Jersey's review of the NYPD spying campaign, a new policy on communication with out-of-state law enforcement agencies and the establishment of a Muslim community outreach committee.

Following a three-month review, Gov. Chris Christie's administration said the NYPD did not violate New Jersey laws when it conducted surveillance of Muslim businesses, mosques and student groups.

The Associated Press, the news agency that broke the story of the NYPD spying, wrote today: "The findings by Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa, a Christie appointee asked by the governor to look into the spying, mean New Jersey Muslims have no state recourse to stop the New York Police Department from infiltrating student groups, videotaping mosque-goers or collecting their license plate numbers as they pray."

"The NYPD's blanket surveillance of every segment of the Muslim community clearly violated the constitutional rights of those who were spied on without evidence or even suspicion of wrongdoing on their part," said CAIR-NJ Chair Nadia Kahf. "We are disappointed with the outcome of the review conducted by the attorney general's office and will consider all legal options, including renewed appeals for action by the Department of Justice."

Kahf noted that CAIR-NJ participated in a similar meeting on the NYPD Muslim spying earlier this year.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

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CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Chair Nadia Kahf, 973-901-1618, E-Mail: nkahf@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, E-Mail:ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Manager Amina Rubin, 202-341-4171, E-Mail:arubin@cair.com