Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed Khairullah, a Muslim Democratic mayor from New Jersey, is preparing to take legal action against the Biden administration to challenge a federal terrorism watchlist that he alleges unfairly targets Muslims. Khairullah, who has been the mayor for a significant period and is known to be the longest-serving Muslim mayor in New Jersey, has claimed that he himself was denied entry to a White House event due to his presence on this watchlist.
Khairullah’s Legal Challenge
While the details of the lawsuit are expected to be officially disclosed on Monday, it is known that the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim civil rights organization in the U.S., is backing this legal action. The lawsuit is anticipated to involve around a dozen plaintiffs, including individuals from Massachusetts, Michigan, and Washington, D.C. CAIR has previously challenged the federal terrorism watchlist, known as the Terrorism Screening Dataset, in a lawsuit.
The Controversial Watchlist
The FBI’s website states that most individuals on the watchlist are not U.S. citizens, and inclusion is not based on factors such as race, religion, or protected beliefs under the First Amendment. The agency emphasizes that additional screening at airports does not necessarily imply watchlist inclusion. While most individuals on the terrorism watchlist can still travel by plane within the U.S., a small subgroup is on the “no-fly” list. Federal authorities generally do not confirm an individual’s watchlist status.
Khairullah’s Personal Experiences
Mayor Khairullah has reported experiencing inconveniences and harassment in the past, including a situation in 2019 where he was held at JFK International Airport in New York for several hours. During this incident, he was questioned about his knowledge of terrorists and was compelled to surrender his phone. Despite these experiences, he had previously visited the White House without encountering any issues.
The Broader Context
Khairullah’s legal challenge is situated within the broader context of concerns about the civil liberties and due process rights of individuals placed on federal watchlists. While such watchlists are intended for national security purposes, they have faced legal scrutiny regarding potential violations of individuals’ constitutional rights.
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