NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey's attorney general has quietly visited a mosque catalogued in a secret report by the New York Police Department.
Jeffrey Chiesa (kee-AY'-sah) attended Friday's prayer services at Masjid Ibrahim (mas-JEEHD' EE'-brah-heem) in Newark. The mosque was among several in the report by the NYPD, which conducted secret surveillance of Muslims in New Jersey and elsewhere.
Chiesa's visit is part of an effort by his office to repair relations between Muslims and New Jersey law enforcement after The Associated Press uncovered the NYPD spying.
Chiesa listened to a sermon by the imam and reassured worshippers New Jersey doesn't tolerate any of its citizens being treated differently than others. He says people should feel free to practice their religion.
The NYPD has said its actions were legal and it has the right to travel to other cities to protect people.
