NYC Mayor Adams appoints first Muslim to panel overseeing NYPD probes into political activity, terrorism

Mayor Adams on Tuesday appointed the first Muslim-American to a key NYPD panel that recommends whether political activity or suspicions of terrorism should be investigated.

Muhammad Faridi, an attorney with the Patterson Belknap law firm, will replace former U.S. District Judge Stephen Robinson, who previously served as the first civilian member of the Handschu Committee.

The committee’s creation stemmed from guidelines laid out in a 1985 federal consent decree as well as subsequent lawsuits that alleged improper probes into the Muslim community in 2017. It’s made up of several high-ranking members of the NYPD and is responsible for determining whether there’s a basis for opening, extending and closing probes into political activity, including terrorism investigations.

“The independent civilian representative on the Handschu Committee plays an important role inensuring that Americans from all backgrounds are treated fairly and equally under our nation’s laws,” Faridi said in a written statement. “The representative is charged with monitoring police investigations relating to sensitive matters — including those relating to political activity and terrorism — and reporting any abuse of civil liberties to the NYPD commissioner and the federal judge assigned to the Handschu case.”

As the committee’s civilian representative, Faridi will be responsible for reporting any abuses of civil liberties to NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell and a federal judge.

Last April, Adams appointed Faridi to serve on his Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary. He has also served as chairman of the New York City Bar Association’s executive committee.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.