- mumtahw
- Sep 20
- 7 min read
A United Nations Stakeholder Submission for the Universal Periodic Review of the United States
“The doors of justice slammed at home. I carried our stories to the world. I will not be silenced.”
Introduction
In April 2025, I submitted formal documentation to the United Nations Human Rights Council as part of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process for the United States. This submission was made to raise urgent concern regarding the suspicious death of my son, Muriyd Abdullah Muhammad Williams, also known by his Indigenous name Niish Akumahkwak (Two Clouds) — a respected land defender and enrolled member of the Ramapough Munsee Lenape Nation.
Most people have never heard of the UPR, and I hadn’t either before I began advocating pro se for justice in my son's case.
What Is the Universal Periodic Review?
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a process conducted by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Every few years, each country — including the United States — undergoes a review of its human rights record. This review considers not only what the government reports about itself, but also submissions from individuals, families, Indigenous nations, and civil society organizations.
These submissions, called “stakeholder reports,” allow people like me — who have experienced deep injustice — to inform the international community of what is happening on the ground, especially when local and national systems have failed us.
Why I Submitted a Stakeholder Report
My submission documents how local authorities failed to investigate my son’s suspicious death, how the Bergen County Medical Examiner falsified his autopsy, and how key Indigenous leaders and institutions- including his own tribal government- remained silent or actively undermined efforts to seek justice. Despite visible injuries, threats on record, and a public track record of activism, not a single investigation was ever opened.
This is not only a personal loss — it is a systemic human rights violation. My son was a well-known advocate for Indigenous land rights. His murder, and the state’s refusal to investigate it, must be recognized for what it is: a violation of the rights to life, truth, and justice, especially as they apply to Indigenous peoples.
Tribal Leadership and Accountability
Although Dwaine Perry was the Principal Chief of the Ramapough Munsee Lenape Nation at the time of my son’s death, he is no longer serving in that role. The current Principal Chief is Vincent Mann, who served as the Turtle Clan Chief — the same clan that my son belonged to.
Despite his position, Chief Vincent Mann has done nothing to support our family’s pursuit of truth or justice, even though he had both the authority and responsibility to do so. In this submission, I name these failures because silence is complicity, and because Indigenous families deserve better from both state and tribal systems.
What You’ll Find Below
Below you will find:
My cover letter addressed to the United Nations Human Rights Council
The full written submission, with annexes and sensitive documentation removed for privacy
The full version, including annexes such as autopsy records, 911 transcripts, and medical correspondence, was submitted directly to the United Nations.
I hope that by sharing this submission publicly, more people will understand the realities we face — and why justice for Two Clouds is not just personal, but a human rights issue that affects all of us.
Redacted UPR Cover Letter
Mumtahanah Williams-Ansari
April 4, 2025
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Human Rights Council
Universal Periodic Review Branch
United Nations Office at Geneva
CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Subject: Submission to the Universal Periodic Review of the United States of America – Concern Regarding the Death of Muriyd Williams (Two Clouds)
Dear Members of the Universal Periodic Review Working Group,
I respectfully submit the attached written contribution for consideration in the upcoming Universal Periodic Review of the United States of America.
This submission addresses the suspicious death of my son, Muriyd Williams, a 30-year-old enrolled member of the Ramapough Munsee Lenape Nation, known by his Indigenous name Niish Akumahkwak (Two Clouds). Muriyd was a dedicated land defender and advocate for Indigenous rights. In July 2022, he was found dead under troubling and unexplained circumstances after previously documenting threats to his life. Despite compelling evidence of foul play, local authorities failed to conduct a proper investigation. Furthermore, there is credible concern that the county medical examiner falsified key records related to his death. These failures reflect a broader systemic disregard for the rights, safety, and dignity of Indigenous people in the United States.
It is my hope that the UPR Working Group will consider this case within the context of ongoing human rights violations faced by Indigenous communities, particularly in relation to state accountability and access to justice.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I remain available to provide further information or documentation as needed.
Sincerely,
Mumtahanah Williams-Ansari
Redacted UPR Main Submission
Written Submission to the United Nations Universal Periodic Review – United States of America (4th Cycle)
Submitted by: Mumtahanah Williams-AnsariSubmission Type: Individual Stakeholder Contribution
Subject: Failure to Investigate the Suspicious Death of a State-Recognized Indigenous Land Defender
1. Summary of the Case
In July 2022, my son, Muriyd Williams, known as Two Clouds (the English translation of his Indigenous name, Niish Akumahkwak), a 30-year-old enrolled member of the Ramapough Munsee Lenape Nation in New Jersey — was found dead under suspicious circumstances in Mahwah on tribal-owned land. Despite clear indicators of potential foul play, the Mahwah Township Police Department who had jurisdiction refused to open an investigation. Two Clouds’ body was found floating in water with shoes and jewelry missing and visible facial deformities (including missing ears, mouth, and an obliterated eye). The police operations report ([Annex–Redacted] 1-2) falsely stated that the body was discovered by civilians, but 911 transcripts ([Annex–Redacted] 3-5) reveal that the first report came from a police officer nearly 80 minutes after the time stamped on the report. This suggests they were on the scene far earlier than reported, possibly tampering with or failing to secure critical evidence.
Furthermore, the Bergen County Medical Examiner’s Office fabricated aspects of the autopsy report, omitting key injuries and assigning a cause of death that contradicted scientific findings. The New Jersey Chief State Medical Examiner’s Office later overturned this ruling ([Annex–Redacted] 9), acknowledging the lack of evidence for drowning and the likelihood of foul play.
Notably, Two Clouds had filed a 2018 affidavit with Bergen County reporting threats from neighbors near the location where he was ultimately found dead. Ramapough Chief Dwaine Perry also confirmed in an official letter to the Bergen County Medical Examiner ([Annex–Redacted] 6-7) that he had previously filed civil and criminal complaints against a man (Daniel “Strong Walker” Thomas of the Oklahoma Delaware Nation) who had made threats just three weeks prior—at the exact spot where Two Clouds was discovered. Despite this, law enforcement showed no interest in pursuing these leads.
2. Context: Discrimination and Lack of Legal Protections for State-Recognized Tribes
Two Clouds’ case also highlights the lack of jurisdictional clarity and protection for state-recognized tribes. Both the U.S. Department of Justice and Bureau of Indian Affairs ([Annex–Redacted] 8) declined involvement, stating that because the Ramapough Munsee Lenape Nation are only state-recognized and not federally recognized, they had no authority to act.
Additionally, the tribal leadership has provided no support to our family. The letter that Chief Dwaine Perry submitted to the county medical examiner ([Annex–Redacted]6-7) — though not law enforcement — speculated on the cause of death and falsely claimed to represent my views without my consent. He and the tribal government have since refused to acknowledge or advocate for justice in Two Clouds’ case, despite claiming to support missing and murdered Indigenous people.
3. Human Rights Violations Raised
Failure to Investigate Suspicious Death (Right to Life – ICCPR Art. 6)
Obstruction and Fabrication of Evidence (Right to Truth and Remedy – ICCPR Art. 2, 14)
Discrimination Against State-Recognized Tribes (UNDRIP; ICCPR Art. 26)
Lack of Protection for Indigenous Land Defenders
Neglect by Law Enforcement and Medical Institutions
4. Background on the Deceased
Two Clouds was a prominent land defender who helped reclaim dozens of acres of ancestral Ramapough land through court victories and by inspiring empathy in landowners, some of whom donated portions of their own property. He was a public speaker on Indigenous rights and the Ramapough plight specifically, presenting at the United Nations, universities, museums, and other forums. His visibility and activism raise serious concerns about whether he was targeted.
5. Recommendations to the U.S. Government
Ensure full and independent investigations into deaths of Indigenous persons, regardless of federal tribal recognition.
Extend jurisdiction and protections to members of state-recognized tribes.
Mandate transparency and accountability in forensic examinations and autopsy reporting.
Create federal-level investigative pathways for Indigenous rights defenders and families facing local inaction.
Provide oversight and regulation of how tribal governments engage in justice advocacy to ensure accountability to their members.
Note: Annexes included in the original UN submission are not reproduced in this public version for privacy and security reasons.
To anyone still waiting for justice: Don’t wait forever.
Many of the systems we’re told to trust — whether government, medical, or even tribal — were never built to serve the people. They often serve power. And when they slam their doors shut, it’s on us to find another way in.
You don’t need permission to demand accountability. You don’t need institutional approval to grieve, to investigate, or to speak out.
Be relentless. Learn everything. Document everything. And tell your truth — not only to your community, but to the world.
Because sometimes, the only way forward… is through.
Shonkwaia’tí:io nikanónhsote.
(Only the Creator is in control.)
Ahó 🪶
M. Ansari 2025
