BREAKING: Major Victory with Ruling from the Supreme Court of New Jersey Against Ibtihaj Muhammad

The Lawfare Project is thrilled to announce a major legal victory in its ongoing defamation lawsuit on behalf of Tamar Herman, with the Supreme Court of New Jersey denying defendant Ibtihaj Muhammad’s motion for leave to appeal. This decision ensures that the case can now move forward to discovery. 

Tamar, who is a longtime Jewish public-school teacher, was the target of a vicious, antisemitic smear campaign. Through social media posts by Muhammad, an Olympic fencer with a substantial platform, she was falsely accused of forcibly removing a student’s hijab. These baseless and inflammatory statements ignited a storm of public outrage and flagrant Jew-hatred, culminating in severe professional and personal consequences for Tamar.

“This ruling is a critical step toward justice for Tamar Herman,” said Benjamin Ryberg, attorney and Chief Operating Officer at The Lawfare Project. “For too long, she has suffered the devastating consequences of a false accusation that was amplified by an influential public figure. This case is about accountability, but it is also about something much bigger: standing up against the rising tide of anti-Jewish defamation and ensuring that Jewish professionals do not become collateral damage in the pursuit of social media outrage.”

The Lawfare Project also commends the outstanding legal work of lead counsel Edward Andrew Paltzik and Erik Dykema of Bochner PLLC, whose dedication and expertise have been instrumental in advancing this critical case.

"We are pleased that New Jersey's highest court closed off Ibtihaj Muhammad's only remaining escape route, confirming the power of our case and guaranteeing that she will now face the accountability that discovery brings,” said Edward Andrew Paltzik of Bochner PLLC.

As a direct result of the defamatory campaign, Tamar was removed from her teaching position, subjected to relentless harassment, and forced to leave her community out of fear for her safety.

“We appreciate the time and care that the NJ Superior Court Judge, Appellate Division, and Supreme Court have put into this case, and applaud their decisions — at every level — that Ms. Herman must get her day in court," said Erik Dykema of Bochner PLLC. "Now that the NJ Supreme Court has spoken, the case will move forward, and that day is coming soon.”

With the case now entering discovery, The Lawfare Project will continue to pursue the evidence necessary to hold Muhammad accountable for her role in spreading falsehoods that harmed Herman’s life and career.