New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, a former federal prosecutor and military veteran who campaigned as a national security moderate, chose to celebrate Ramadan at a mosque with deep-rooted Hamas financing ties and a leader who called for a “new intifada.”
Story Snapshot
- Sherrill attended services on March 21, 2026, at Islamic Center of Passaic County and praised Imam Mohammad Qatanani’s community.
- The mosque’s co-founder Mohammad El-Mezain was convicted of funneling money to Hamas in the largest U.S. terror financing case.
- Qatanani faced deportation over alleged Hamas links and a 2017 speech urging intifada, though courts ruled evidence weak.
- Conservative media highlights the clash with Sherrill’s centrist image amid rising Islamist threats post-Iran war.
- No response from Sherrill’s office as of March 25, 2026, fueling political vulnerability.
Sherrill Attends Ramadan Services at Controversial Mosque
Governor Mikie Sherrill entered the Islamic Center of Passaic County on March 21, 2026, during Ramadan’s final days. She met Imam Mohammad Qatanani and posted photos on Facebook, thanking the community for the welcome. Sherrill commended their adherence to Islam’s five pillars and charitable works, stating the nation lacks such brotherhood. This visit occurred weeks after her November 2025 election victory, where she won by 14 points as a moderate Democrat.
NJ Gov. Sherrill attends mosque led by Imam once accused of Hamas ties in deportation casehttps://t.co/sguSPdoifc
— 2FEDUP (@MichaAudra) March 25, 2026
Mosque’s Long History of Hamas Connections
Islamic Center of Passaic County opened in 1989 in Paterson, New Jersey. Co-founder Mohammad El-Mezain received a 2008 conviction for conspiring to support Hamas via the Holy Land Foundation, America’s biggest terror financing prosecution. Former imam Mohammed Al-Hanooti allegedly raised $6 million for Hamas in the 1990s, though he denied it. These facts establish the venue’s pattern of federal scrutiny over terrorist support.
Imam Qatanani’s Deportation Battles and Rhetoric
Imam Mohammad Qatanani, Jordan-born, arrived in the U.S. on a 1996 work visa. Israel imprisoned him in 1993, alleging a Hamas confession he disputes. In his 1999 green card application, Qatanani denied prior imprisonment. During a 2017 Times Square rally against Trump’s Jerusalem move, he demanded a “new intifada,” which he later called peaceful protest. DHS pursued deportation in 2025, but the Third Circuit Court ruled 2-1 in July that they lacked authority, deeming Israeli evidence low-weight.
Courts’ skepticism toward foreign military documents aligns with due process, yet Qatanani’s praise for Muslim Brotherhood leader Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who backed Hamas, raises valid security flags under common sense scrutiny.
NJ Gov. Sherrill attends mosque led by Imam once accused of Hamas ties in deportation casehttps://t.co/HXxH2z8Os2
— Cecilia bowie Alladin sane Parodi (@bowie_sane) March 25, 2026
Sherrill’s Moderate Branding Under Fire
Sherrill built her career as a Navy helicopter pilot and assistant U.S. attorney prosecuting financial crimes. Her gubernatorial campaign stressed national security centrism, reassuring Democrats wary of extremes. Conservative outlets like Daily Signal and Washington Free Beacon argue this mosque visit exposes hypocrisy, especially amid post-Iran war attacks by radical Islamists. Facts support their view: associating with unvetted Hamas-linked figures erodes trust in her judgment.
Political Fallout and Community Tensions
New Jersey hosts over 321,000 Muslims, 3.5% of the population, doubled since 2010. Sherrill’s silence to media requests leaves conservative narratives dominant as of March 25, 2026. Short-term, this energizes opponents questioning Democratic security priorities. Long-term, it risks her centrist appeal and interfaith relations, particularly with Jewish communities alarmed by Qatanani’s anti-Israel history. Politicians must vet venues rigorously to avoid legitimizing tainted institutions.
Sources:
Free Beacon Substack: Moderate Mikie Sherrill meets with…