Hannan Adely

I wrote 'at least seven,' in case there were more. I now know of at least 10 Muslims who have served as mayors in NJ!

The first - Charles Bilal - wasn't elected in a liberal stronghold, but rather in the small town of Kountze, Texas, in 1991.

Today, Muslim mayors lead city and town halls in California, Georgia, Michigan, Texas and Maryland.

Zohran Mamdani's win is historic - for the Big Apple.

But it's old news in NJ, which has had at least seven Muslim mayors.

www.northjersey.com/story/news/2...

To many, the election of the 1st Muslim mayor in NYC felt like more than a single win. It was also a sign of acceptance after being cast as outsiders - a message that Islamophobia would not dictate their political fate.

www.northjersey.com/story/news/p...

Jews for a Shared Future Jews for a Shared Future is dedicated to opposing antisemitism and Islamophobia, recognizing the inseparable interconnectedness of our communities. We champion compassionate leadership, foster dialogu...

Tried to share this letter from rabbis & Jewish leaders rejecting Islamophobia in Mamdani race w/an editor. #microsoft blocked link via Teams as "potentially harmful content."
Tried to open the link via email and got message: "This website is classified as malicious."

jewsforasharedfuture.org

When I think of #DickCheney, I recall this haunting 2025 photo by Chris Hondros of a young girl, screaming, her hands soaked in blood, taken after her parents were shot dead by US troops in Tal Afar, Iraq. I recall other horrifying images and the war that unleashed hell courtesy of Cheney & company.

Fares Abu Fares, aid manager for HEAL Palestine, called it a “drop of water in the ocean” compared to what is needed.

“The only thing that got better, to be honest, is less killing, thank God. It’s not a normal life. It’s never going to be a normal life for years and years to come.”

News stories mention Israel halting aid over alleged Hamas violations of ceasefire. They don't mention that Israel was not supplying the 600 trailers of aid per day promised under the ceasefire.

UN data shows Israel has let in, on average, less than 100 trucks of aid per day.

Israel's airstrikes in Gaza have killed more than 100 people. Despite what media seem to imply, violence had not abated even before this.

Just ask Sami Shaban, a NJ man whose cousin, wife and kids were killed in a strike a week after the ceasefire.

Zohran Mamdani addresses Islamophobia in the New York mayor’s race from a mosque in the Bronx. He talks about Muslim New Yorkers having to live in the shadows facing attacks, profiling and surveillance. “I will no longer look for myself in the shadows,” he says. “I will find myself in the light.”

Amid attacks on his faith, Zohran Mamdani excites Muslim, South Asian voters The frontrunner is turning out Muslim and South Asian New Yorkers in historic numbers, while facing attacks on his faith and background.

If elected, Zohran Mamdani would be the first Muslim and South Asian mayor of the nation's largest city.

He’s reshaped New York City’s electorate with Muslim and South Asian voters as part of a diverse coalition that’s projected to propel him to victory in less than two weeks.

For those of us who are struggling, I wrote a companion story with advice from a trauma expert/psychiatrist on how to balance the need to be informed with the need to preserve our mental health.

I found his advice helpful and hope you do too.

www.northjersey.com/story/news/h...

www.northjersey.com/story/news/2...

I spoke with content creators, social media consumers, a trauma expert and a renowned war photographer about the impact of consuming news this way.

Don't miss story's conclusion, with powerful commentary about how past war images have served as evidence and how we "cannot say we did not know."

Yes, repeated exposure to brutal images/reels can take a toll on mental health. Is it helping or hurting? Are we growing numb to violence? How is social media coverage shaping perception of war?

In TV show #Andor, a character is tortured via headset broadcasting screams of children slaughtered by the Empire, found to inflict severe psychological distress.

By chance, saw it while reporting on trauma from viewing "live streamed genocide" in Gaza & how social media has changed how we view war

After Jenan Matari's book signing was cancelled in Montclair, support rolled in.

Jewish activists & Quakers organized a book signing at a new location. Book sellers called asking to host her. The first print of her children’s book sold out.

Read our interview with the Palestinian American author.

How Arab-owned coffee shops are shaping youth culture Coffee shops with a Middle Eastern ambiance have burst onto the social scene, providing a festive café environment and late-night hours.

A new wave of cafés has burst onto the social scene fueled by #Yemenicoffee, creative drinks & pastries and a vibrant atmosphere with a Middle Eastern flair. With late night hours, they emphasize community and socializing over a grab-and-go experience.

www.northjersey.com/story/news/2...

How did Cory Booker, Andy Kim vote on blocking arms sales to Israel? Most Democrats in US Senate voted to block arms sales to Israel, but Booker and Kim were divided on the measure.

Most Democratic senators voted for a measure to block arms sales to Israel amid growing outrage over destruction of Gaza & starvation of its people. But NJ's Senators were divided.. Read how they voted and what Sen. Kim had to say - and what Booker didn't say.
www.northjersey.com/story/news/p...

In Gaza, people are starving. These NJ relatives recount death that some call 'genocide' Palestinian Americans said malnutrition in Gaza had taken an especially hard toll on children, the elderly and people medical conditions.

"Let the Palestinians get food. Let the Palestinians get freedom. Let my family go back to their home. And let my family and our families live the life that they deserve."

www.northjersey.com/story/news/n...

In Gaza, people are starving. These NJ relatives recount death that some call 'genocide' Palestinian Americans said malnutrition in Gaza had taken an especially hard toll on children, the elderly and people medical conditions.

"They say they are at war with Hamas and not the people of Gaza, even as they express intent and act to destroy swaths of civilian society." @hannanadely.bsky.social is one of the few doing excellent local reporting on the genocide www.northjersey.com/story/news/n...

‘I don’t want aid; my son is gone’: Aid drop kills three-year-old in Gaza | CNN Family members mourn the death of Sami Ayyad, a three-year-old Palestinian boy, who was killed in an aid drop in Gaza on October 19. The family were eating breakfast when aid pallets were dropped from...

'I don’t want aid; my son is gone': Aid drop kills three-year-old in Gaza

edition.cnn.com/2024/10/22/w...

At least 12 Palestinians drown trying to retrieve aid parcels dropped into the sea | CNN Footage obtained by CNN shows hundreds of Palestinians rushing to the site of the aid drop, with some venturing into the water as parcels crashed down on the shores of Gaza.

At least 12 Palestinians drown trying to retrieve aid parcels dropped into the sea

edition.cnn.com/2024/03/26/m...

At least 5 killed after airdropped aid falls on them in Gaza | CNN At least five people were killed and 10 others injured when airdropped aid packages fell on them in the Al Shati camp west of Gaza City, according to a journalist on the scene.

Aid drops are dangerous. Last time this was done, Gazans were killed and injured or drowned trying to retrieve aid. Incredible that many news stories do not mention these fatalities.

www.cnn.com/2024/03/08/m...

Netanyahu defends arming Palestinian clans accused of ties with jihadist groups PM says it ‘saves lives of Israeli soldiers’, after accusations government is giving weapons to ‘criminals and felons’

'The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has admitted arming clans in Gaza that he says are opposed to Hamas, after allegations that members of these criminal gangs looted humanitarian aid and have ties to jihadist groups.' www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Israel backs an anti-Hamas armed group known for looting aid in Gaza. Here's what we know Israel is supporting armed groups of Palestinians in Gaza in what it says is a move to counter Hamas.

'Israel is supporting armed groups of Palestinians in Gaza in what it says is a move to counter Hamas. But officials from the U.N. and aid organizations say the military is allowing them to loot food and other supplies from their trucks.' apnews.com/article/gaza...

Exclusive: USAID analysis found no evidence of massive Hamas theft of Gaza aid The internal U.S. government analysis challenges the main rationale that Israel and the U.S. give for backing a new armed private aid operation.

News stories should include context that Israel was arming criminal gangs that were responsible for much of the looting & also shot and killed guards protecting aid trucks. Israeli officials have spoken openly about it. www.reuters.com/world/middle...

2b/ The July 22 ruling reinforces the idea that states cannot enact laws that conflict with federal immigration policy.

It also paves the way for more ICE facilities in NJ and in states with similar laws, at at time when the Trump Admin plans vast expansion of ICE and immigration detention.

NJ can't ban private ICE detention contracts, federal court rules The federal court ruling could help pave the way for the Trump administration to expand private ICE detention in New Jersey and other states.

1b/ The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals struck down NJ’s 2021 law banning private immigration detention contracts.

“Only the federal government has the power to decide whether, how, and why to hold aliens for violating immigration law," wrote Judge Stephanos Bibas.

www.northjersey.com/story/news/n...

3/ Judge Arianna Freeman warned that the DOJ’s argument would give the executive branch “carte blanche” to bypass procedures set by Congress.

The decision reinforces legal protections for 12.8 million green card holders and the limits of unchecked executive power.