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By: Hal C Clarke
Mohamed Khairullah, a mayor and congressional candidate in New Jersey, was denied security clearance to a White House event last year, raising questions about his inclusion on a terror watchlist, NY Post reported
Khairullah, who is challenging long-time incumbent Rep. Bill Pascrell, expressed his frustration over the lack of due process to clear his name. “I believe I am on a terror watchlist with no due process,” Khairullah told Politico.
Khairullah’s background includes an arrest for aggravated assault in 2002, following an alleged attack on his then-wife. The domestic violence charge was later dropped, but the incident has resurfaced amid his current political campaign.
As mayor of Prospect Park, a town near Paterson, Khairullah oversees a community with the largest Palestinian American population in the United States. The district also has a significant Jewish population, especially in Passaic, making the Israel-Hamas conflict a pivotal issue in the race.
Originally from Syria, Khairullah moved to the U.S. in 1980. He has criticized Pascrell for his support of a $26.4 billion military aid package to Israel, the New York Post reported.
“I have been a vocal critic of the Biden administration’s handling of the Israeli aggression and daily massacres against the Palestinians in Gaza,” Khairullah stated. He advocates for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and the end of Israeli occupation in Palestine. “I refuse to see our tax dollars go to fund genocide. It is unacceptable that our elected officials are prioritizing military aid over diplomatic solutions that could save lives,” he added.
Khairullah, who also serves as an assistant principal at Passaic County Tech-Vocational Schools, recently posted photos on Instagram with Rep. Jamaal Bowman and Rep. Ilhan Omar, both known for their critical stance on Israel.
In contrast, Rep. Bill Pascrell, an 87-year-old Army veteran and former mayor of Paterson, has defended his vote for military aid to Israel. “I voted in favor of fresh aid to Israel to protect itself and Israelis from terrorism, especially in light of Iran’s latest terror attack,” Pascrell said. He emphasized the need for peace, calling for a ceasefire and the release of remaining hostages. Pascrell also supports aid to Gaza but stresses that “ceasefire and freed hostages is the only path to peace and two permanent states living in security.”
Pro-Israel activists have criticized Khairullah for not condemning Hamas’ October 7 invasion of Israel, which escalated the conflict in Gaza. “I think he supports Hamas,” stated Rabbi Benjamin Kelsen.
Khairullah has previously claimed profiling and discrimination. He was denied access to a White House Eid al-Fitr celebration and believes he was unfairly placed on an FBI terror watchlist. He reported being detained and questioned about terrorism at JFK Airport after a trip to Turkey, attributing this to Muslim profiling.
Despite the controversies, Pascrell remains the favored candidate, with strong support from the Democratic establishment, including endorsements from House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Rep. Gregory Meeks, and Rep. Tom Suozzi. Pascrell co-chairs the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus, further solidifying his position within the party.
