Passaic County Nurse Fired After Islamic Sermon, Sues Ex-Employer

PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ — A Passaic County nurse has filed a lawsuit against his ex-employer, Hackensack Meridian Health, alleging that he was fired for speaking out against injustices in Palestine.

Khalil Adem, of Clifton, is a part-time imam who was fired from his nursing job shortly after delivering a pro-Palestine sermon at a mosque in Flanders last year. He filed a civil rights suit against Hackensack Meridian Health last Tuesday, claiming “employee discrimination.”

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) calls Adem’s termination “an outrageous attack on the fundamental rights of free speech and religious expression.”

“I was wronged. I was terminated, subjected to a hostile environment, and retaliated against,” Adem said in a statement. “I was defamed, and a false criminal complaint was filed against me. I am a Muslim and a religious leader. Hackensack has a troubling pattern of treating certain voices and communities unfairly while protecting others. It is deeply painful to see that when I speak out for justice, I am punished – while others, expressing contrary views, are encouraged, or left alone.”

Representatives from Hackensack Meridian Health said that they would not comment on the ongoing litigation.

“Hackensack Meridian Health values its patients and team members,” one representative said in an email. “Providing a safe, inclusive and respectful environment for all our patients and staff is our number one priority.”

According to court documents, Hackensack Meridian Health’s reason for Adem’s termination was due to him violating their policies on discrimination, harassment, and social media conduct and "due to fear that he would cause harm to patients,” with no basis or justification.

Adem was originally from Saudi Arabia until emigrating to the U.S. in the 90s. He began working for Hackensack Meridian Health in 2013 and received a promotion in 2021, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit also states that Adem was known for his “diligence, problem solving and kind demeanor with his colleagues and patients,” and always had “excellent” evaluations.

The sermon in question was delivered in August of 2024 and resulted in high media traffic and criticism from “various groups that have been characterized as Islamophobic.”

A complaint was filed with the Mount Olive Police Department, with Adem learning that some considered his sermon “hate speech.” Adem says he didn’t receive any charges, and the Mount Olive Police Captain apologized to him for the inconvenience.

However, on September 12, Adem was informed by Hackensack Meridian Health’s Human Resources department that they had “received complaints about his sermon,” and he was placed on leave pending an internal investigation.

After about a week of defending his sermon and providing context to Human Resources, Adem was fired, the lawsuit says. As a result of his termination, he was also prohibited from working at any other Hackensack Meridian Health-owned facility, according to court documents.

The lawsuit also alleges that the defendants “cooperated with outside institutions known to promote hate against Muslims," during Adem's termination process.

Adem added that not only did he lose his job, but he says his reputation has been tarnished after the defendants made “defamatory statements and false accusations of criminal activities.”

Violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, discriminatory discharge, defamation, denial of equal protection under the 14th Amendment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress are just some of the eight legal claims highlighted in the suit.

Adem is seeking reimbursement from earnings he’s missed out on, as well as damages for “mental anguish, loss of dignity, humiliation, and injury to livelihood.”