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Non-profit

Islamic Center of Passaic County (ICPC)

Website:

icpcnj.org
Location:

Paterson, NJ
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Type:

Religious Advocacy Group
Formation:

1989
Senior Imam:

Mohammad Qatanani
Chair of Board for Trustees:

Nadia Kahf

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

The Islamic Center of Passaic County (ICPC) is a Muslim mosque based in Paterson, New Jersey, with branches in the New Jersey towns of Clifton and Prospect Park. 1 ICPC is a pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel organization with ties to terrorism, most notably to Hamas. 2 3 Mohammad Qatanani, the imam of the Islamic Center of Passaic County, has previously faced deportation from the United States by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for alleged former membership in and support of Hamas. 4

ICPC also holds a left-of-center perspective on race and has supported the anti-police movement in the United States. 5

Background

The Islamic Center of Passaic County was founded in 1989. 6 One of its founders and the first imam at the mosque was Mohammad El-Mezain who was convicted in 2008 for providing funds to Hamas. 6 Despite this connection to terrorism, the mosque continued its operations without El-Mezain and has since grown to support one of the largest Muslim communities in the United States. In 2016, ICPC opened a second branch in Clifton, New Jersey, and a third branch in 2021 in Prospect Park, New Jersey. Between the three locations, the Islamic Center of Passaic County serves more than 25,000 congregants. 7 The ICPC Facebook page had over 29,000 followers as of 2024. 8

Initiatives and Activities

The Islamic Center of Passaic County offers regular Muslim daily prayer as well as funeral services, wedding ceremonies, and religious counseling. 9 10 11 12 The mosque also operates a voluntary matrimonial service to arrange marriages between Muslims in the community. 13

ICPC offers educational resources to its members, including Arabic courses, Islamic theology classes, and other social and life-skill classes. 14 The mosque also operates the Ihsan Academy, a weekend school for Muslim youth aged five through 17. The Ihsan Academy offers courses ranging from the Arabic language to Quranic memorization and Islamic theology. 15

ICPC also has initiatives to increase community access to housing, healthcare, financial and business services, and substance-abuse recovery, among other community-outreach efforts. 16 17 18 19 20

Political Engagement

In June 2020, the Islamic Center of Passaic County joined more than two dozen New Jersey-based mosques in support of the Black Lives Matter movement that was reignited by the death of George Floyd. ICPC and the other organizations expressed their support for the “Day of Outrage,” a larger effort by Muslim organizations and houses of worship to express solidarity with Black Americans by preaching against racism and police brutality and encouraging people to protest. 5

In June 2021, the Islamic Center of Passaic County signed an open letter from the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American Islamic-Relations condemning what it called “Israel’s war crimes” against Palestinian Arabs. The letter was signed by 42 New Jersey-based Muslim organizations. It called for elected leaders to speak out about Israel’s alleged mistreatment of Palestinians in East Jerusalem and accused Israel of “ongoing aggression and violations of international law and human decency.” 2

Ties to Terrorism

The Islamic Center of Passaic County has several alleged ties to terrorism, most notably through its founding member’s fundraising for Hamas through the Holy Land Foundation, 21 another former imam’s alleged fundraising for Hamas, 22 23 and its current imam’s alleged connections to Hamas. 4

Holy Land Foundation

Islamic Center of Passaic County founder and former imam Mohammad El-Mezain was, according to the Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT), “convicted of funneling money to Hamas in November 2008, along with four others in the [Holy Land Foundation]-Hamas financing trial.” 24 IPT further reported that “El-Mezain reportedly stated in a 1994 speech at the ICPC that he raised $1,800,000 inside the United States for Hamas activities.” 24

During the initial trial, the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict on whether to convict El-Mezain of conspiracy to provide material support and resources to Hamas. However, in a second trial in 2008, jurors found El-Mezain guilty on one count of helping finance terrorism. A Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals panel upheld the convictions in December 2011, and El-Mezain was sentenced to 15 years in prison. 25 26

Mohammad Al-Hanooti

Mohammad Al-Hanooti is a former imam of the Islamic Center of Passaic County who allegedly raised over $6,000,000 for Hamas activities. A 2001 FBI memo stated that informants reported that he was a “big supporter” of Hamas and was “purportedly holding fund-raising activities, as well as supporting visitors to the United States from Israel and Jordan, to speak on behalf of HAMAS.” Another FBI informant reported “in 1993, that Al-Hanooti collected over six million U.S. dollars for support of HAMAS in Israel.” 22 23

Al-Hanooti was also an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombings, an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation trial, and had several ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and its affiliates. 27 22

Mohammad Qatanani

As of 2024, Mohammad Qatanani is the imam at the Islamic Center of Passaic County. 28 Qatanani has been accused of lying on his green-card application about an arrest that took place in Israel in 1993 for his alleged involvement with Hamas, although he denies any relation to or involvement with Hamas. Deportation proceedings began first for Qatanani, his wife, and three of their children in 2008 when he was accused of working for Hamas and most recently in 2016, when it was revealed that he was convicted by the Israeli government for working for Hamas during the 1993 arrest. 29 30 4

Qatanani, who was born and raised in the Palestinian territories, claims he was unaware that he was convicted during the arrest and maintained that he never worked for Hamas. According to the Times of Israel, Qatanani’s “brother-in-law was a senior Hamas military leader killed by Israel, but Qatanani said in his 2008 trial that he did not participate with him in political activities.” 4

After the 2008 deportation proceedings, Qatanani was awarded permanent residency by U.S. Immigration Judge Alberto J. Riefkohl. 31 Several interfaith and political authorities had defended Qatanani’s character and attested to his moderate political opinions, including former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R) and a Jewish rabbi. 4 32

During the Israel-Hamas war that began on October 7, 2023 following the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel, Qatanani claimed that he lost 15 members of his family during the ensuing Israeli retaliation against Hamas. 33 34

Other Support for Terrorism

In August 2024, the Islamic Center of Passaic County hosted a sermon by Sheikh Ismail Hamdi during which he glorified the martyrdom of Hamas terrorists in the Israel-Hamas war and praised a slain Hamas political leader, calling him a “great leader” and a martyr; the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) concluded Hamdi was referring to Ismail Haniyeh. 35

Leadership

Mohammad Qatanani was born in Gaza and has been the imam of the Islamic Center of Passaic County since 1996. Qatanani received a bachelor’s degree in Islamic Legislation and Jurisprudence in 1985 from the University of Jordan, as well a master’s degree in Islamic Jurisprudence in 1989 and a Ph.D. in Islamic Jurisprudence in 1996. He holds appointments as a professor of Islamic Studies at the Graduate Theological Seminary, as professor at the Islamic American University, and as professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at Montclair State University. 36 30

In addition to his alleged links to Hamas, Qatanani has been accused of radical preaching. He has also defended Yusuf Qaradawi, the spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, arguing that more emphasis should be placed on his good rather than bad ideas and traits. Qatanani has also defended the practice of donating to the families of suicide bombers. 37

Nadia Kahf is the chairwoman of the Islamic Center of Passaic County board of trustees. 38 In 2023, the New Jersey Senate voted to appoint Kahf a state Superior Court judge in New Jersey. Although she was nominated in 2022, her process stalled, but with the help of local Muslim leaders, Kahf’s nomination advanced and she received the appointment. Before attaining the judgeship, Kahf specialized in family law and immigration and she has also been a member of the board of the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) since 2003. She is the legal adviser to Wafa House, a nonprofit domestic-violence and social-services agency based in Clifton, New Jersey. 39

References

  1. “Home.” Islamic Center of Passaic County. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://icpcnj.org/
  2. Hooper, Ibrahim. “CAIR-NJ Joins 42 New Jersey Muslim Organizations Condemning Injustice Against Palestinians, Calls on Elected Officials to Act.” CAIR. June 11, 2021. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-nj-joins-42-new-jersey-muslim-organizations-condemning-injustice-against-palestinians-calls-on-elected-officials-to-act/
  3. Islamic Center of Passaic County. Investigative Project on Terrorism. Accessed October 20, 2024.  https://www.investigativeproject.org/mosques/402/islamic-center-of-passaic-county
  4. “US Muslim cleric fights deportation over Hamas conviction.” Times of Israel. December 6, 2016. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-muslim-cleric-fights-deportation-over-hamas-conviction/
  5. Adley, Hannan. “’Day of Outrage’: NJ mosques will preach against racism, police brutality on Friday.” NorthJersey.com. June 4, 2020. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/new-jersey/2020/06/04/nj-mosque-pledge-day-outrage-against-racism-police-brutality/3138494001/
  6. “Certificate of Incorporation – Islamic Center of Passaic County.” Investigative Project on Terrorism. September 18, 1989. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://www.investigativeproject.org/case_docs/islamic-center-of-passaic-county/1289/icpc-articles-of-incorporation.pdf
  7. “About Us.” Islamic Center of Passaic County. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://icpcnj.org/about-team-2/
  8. “Islamic Center of Passaic County.” Facebook. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://www.facebook.com/icpc.nj/
  9. “Prayer Timings.” Islamic Center of Passaic County. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://icpcnj.org/prayer-timings/
  10. “Katb Kitab.” Islamic Center of Passaic County. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://icpcnj.org/katbkitab/
  11.  “Funeral Services.” Islamic Center of Passaic County. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://icpcnj.org/icpc-funeral-services/
  12. “Counseling Services.” Islamic Center of Passaic County. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://icpcnj.org/counseling-services/
  13. “Matrimonial.” Islamic Center of Passaic County. Accessed October 20, 2024.https://icpcnj.org/matrimonial/
  14. “Courses.” Islamic Center of Passaic County. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://icpcnj.org/courses/
  15.  “Ihsan Academy.” Islamic Center of Passaic County. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://icpcnj.org/ihsanacademy/
  16. Resources – Housing Search in NJ. Islamic Center of Passaic County. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://icpcnj.org/about-team-2/
  17. “Get Covered.” Islamic Center of Passaic County. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://icpcnj.org/get-covered/
  18. “Muslim Business Directory Sign Up.” Islamic Center of Passaic County. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScJWVGoFwpvHpS2H6dY-ZWAQmp9gQPD-XztKTlwUI9hA7pdeQ/viewform
  19. “Islamic Will.” Islamic Center of Passaic County. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://icpcnj.org/islamic-will/
  20. “ISAI.” Islamic Center of Passaic County. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://icpcnj.org/isai/
  21. “THE HOMELAND SECURITY IMPLICATIONS OF RADICALIZATION.” U.S. government Publishing Office. September 20, 2006. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-109hhrg35626/html/CHRG-109hhrg35626.htm
  22. “OBITUARY: Mohammed Al-Hanooti- Many Ties To US Muslim Brotherhood And Hamas.” The Global Muslim Brotherhood Daily WatchThe Global Muslim Brotherhood Daily Watch. June 7, 2015. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://www.globalmbwatch.com/2015/06/07/obituary-mohammed-al-hanooti-many-ties-to-us-muslim-brotherhood-and-hamas/
  23. Poole, Patrick. “Blue Suede Jihad: Major Hamas Fundraiser Welcomed in the Land of Elvis.” Islamist Watch. July 1, 2010. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://www.meforum.org/islamist-watch/blue-suede-jihad-major-hamas-fundraiser-welcomed
  24. “Islamic Center of Passaic County.” The Investigative Project on Terrorism. Accessed November 26, 2024. https://www.investigativeproject.org/mosques/402/islamic-center-of-passaic-county.
  25. “US v. Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, et al.” Investigative Project on Terrorism. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://www.investigativeproject.org/case/65/us-v-holy-land-foundation
  26. “Federal Judge Hands Downs Sentences in Holy Land Foundation Case.” Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Justice. May 27, 2009. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/federal-judge-hands-downs-sentences-holy-land-foundation-case
  27. Mael, Daniel. “No Surprise: CAIR Mourns Alleged Hamas Fundraiser.” National Review. June 5, 2015. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://www.nationalreview.com/2015/06/cair-mourns-alleged-hamas-fundraiser-sheikh-mohammed-al-hanooti/
  28. “Imams.” Islamic Center of Passaic County. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://icpcnj.org/about-team-2-3-2/
  29. [1] Nutt, Amy Ellis. “Popular Passaic County cleric can stay in U.S.” NJ.com. September 4, 2008. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://www.nj.com/news/2008/09/robert_sciarrinothe_starledger.html
  30. Kelley, Tina and Dwoskin, Elizabeth. “Revered New Jersey Imam, Facing Deportation, Has Interfaith Support.” New York Times. April 24, 2008. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/24/nyregion/24imam.html
  31. Nutt, Amy Ellis. “Popular Passaic County cleric can stay in U.S.” NJ.com. September 4, 2008. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://www.nj.com/news/2008/09/robert_sciarrinothe_starledger.html
  32. Ruby, Walter. “Prosecutor cites Koran in trial of Muslim cleric.” New Jersey Jewish News. May 20, 2008. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20121123231949/http://www.njjewishnews.com/njjn.com/051508/njProsecutorCitesKoran.html
  33. Adley, Hannan. “This NJ imam was comforting bereaved. Then he saw on TV that 15 of his family were killed.” NorthJersey.com. October 13, 2023. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/world/2023/10/13/nj-man-family-gaza-israel-palestine-war/71173295007/
  34. Petti, Matthew. “Palestinian Americans Are Americans, Too.” Reason. October 26, 2023. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://reason.com/2023/10/26/palestinian-americans-are-americans-too/
  35. “New Jersey Imam Ismail Hamdi: Ismail Haniyeh Was A Great Leader, A Good Man; He Was Working On A Peace Treaty When He Was Killed; We Must Want Martyrdom – Paradise Is Amazing, But Getting Killed For The Sake Of Allah Is Even Better.” Middle East Media Research Institute. August 2, 2024. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://www.memri.org/tv/new-jersey-imam-sheikh-hamdi-haniyeh-great-leader-martyrdom-better-than-paradise-sake-of-allah
  36. “Dr. Mohammad Qatanani.” Islamic Center of Passaic County. Accessed October 20, 2024.  https://icpcnj.org/team/dr-mohammad-qatanani/
  37. “Imam Mohammad Qatanani.” Investigative Project on Terrorism. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://www.investigativeproject.org/3558/imam-mohammad-qatanani
  38. “Board and Staff.” Islamic Center of Passaic County. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://icpcnj.org/board-staff/
  39. Adley, Hannan. “She’s the first judge to wear a hijab on the bench in NJ. It’s not her only accomplishment.” NorthJersey.com. March 1, 2023. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/2023/03/01/muslim-judge-nadia-kahf-from-passaic-will-be-first-to-wear-hijab-on-the-bench/69954946007/
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Islamic Center of Passaic County (ICPC)

152 Derrom Ave
Paterson, NJ