CAIR - Philadelphia Chapter

CAIR - Philadelphia Chapter CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. CAIR works to promote a positive image of Islam and Muslims in America.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations Philadelphia Chapter (CAIR-Philadelphia) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) grassroots civil rights and advocacy group, part of America’s largest Islamic civil liberties group, with 30+ regional offices nationwide and headquarters in Washington D.C. In 2004, thirteen Muslims from the Greater Philadelphia area came together with the idea of bringing the benefits of C

AIR’s work to the local community. Through media relations, lobbying, education and advocacy, CAIR puts forth an Islamic perspective to ensure the Muslim voice is represented. In offering this perspective, CAIR seeks to empower the American Muslim community and encourage their participation in political and social activism. CAIR-Philadelphia employs full time staff to coordinate and accomplish our mission. Current Staff: Jacob Bender, Executive Director; Timothy Welbeck, Esq., Civil Rights Attorney; Ahmet Selim Tekelioglu, PhD, Outreach and Education Director; Leena Jaffer, Operations Manager. Learn more at our website: pa.cair.com

On Monday, April 20th, a PA delegation from Philadelphia, Allentown, and Harrisburg joined 1,000+ Muslims on Capitol Hil...
05/04/2026

On Monday, April 20th, a PA delegation from Philadelphia, Allentown, and Harrisburg joined 1,000+ Muslims on Capitol Hill in DC - visiting 9 congressional offices in one day to make our voices heard.

We advocated to:
• Oppose anti-Muslim legislation and fear-driven policies
• End U.S. funding for genocide and endless wars
• Protect free speech and immigration rights

At a time when access to political power is being narrowed, this is your reminder: our voices matter…but only if we use them.

Call your representatives. Show up. Stay organized.
People power only works when we act.

Are you a Muslim voter in Pennsylvania? We want to hear from you! CAIR-PA’s voter survey takes 3 minutes. Your answers s...
05/01/2026

Are you a Muslim voter in Pennsylvania? We want to hear from you!

CAIR-PA’s voter survey takes 3 minutes. Your answers shape our advocacy and the conversations we have with elected officials. pa.cair.com/primary2026

Every child has the constitutional right to a public education, free from fear or uncertainty. Earlier this year, the fe...
04/27/2026

Every child has the constitutional right to a public education, free from fear or uncertainty.

Earlier this year, the federal government rescinded the longstanding Safe Places policy — stripping protections that once kept schools, churches, and hospitals free from immigration enforcement. Welcoming Schools bills (SB1125 and HB2148) on the state level would ensure students feel secure in their classrooms.

Thank you to every voice that showed up today:

Legislators: | | | |

Student Speakers: Aaliya Wafa () | Vincent Nguyen ()

Advocates: Khara Timsina () | Olyvia Armstrong () | Zeynep Emanet () | Judy Heath () | Maura McInerney () | Alex Domingos ()

📸 Victor Rivera

CAIR-Philadelphia today called on Muhlenberg College to promptly and transparently investigate an incident in which a gr...
04/26/2026

CAIR-Philadelphia today called on Muhlenberg College to promptly and transparently investigate an incident in which a group of white male students allegedly shouted anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim chants outside a student’s on-campus dorm room on the night of April 25, 2026, at the college’s Allentown campus.

The chants directly targeted the student who displays a Palestinian flag on their room window and reportedly included such vulgar phrases as “F**k Palestine”, “Rip that sh*t off”, “Burn that sh*t” multiple times.

Read more at pa.cair.com/pressrelease

Tomorrow, join us at Philadelphia City Hall for the council final vote on the ICE Out bill. Room 400 at 10 am, let’s pac...
04/22/2026

Tomorrow, join us at Philadelphia City Hall for the council final vote on the ICE Out bill.

Room 400 at 10 am, let’s pack the room!

A look back onto Interfaith Iftar 2026; a promise to loving the stranger and helping the other. Our theme this year was ...
04/21/2026

A look back onto Interfaith Iftar 2026; a promise to loving the stranger and helping the other.

Our theme this year was “Faith in Action: A Collective Response to Hunger” and brought together religious leaders, community members, and local elected officials to break bread and discuss the food disparity in our city.

Amid the federal government’s immigration crackdown, anti-Muslim rhetoric spreading in Quakertown PA, and the war in the Middle East, we look back on this night and remember what it looks like to come together and rise against hate in all its forms.

Every child deserves to go to school without fear. On Monday, April 27, we’re taking that message to the Pennsylvania St...
04/21/2026

Every child deserves to go to school without fear.

On Monday, April 27, we’re taking that message to the Pennsylvania State Capitol. The Welcoming Schools bill will bar ICE from school grounds without a judicial warrant, require districts to have clear response plans, and provide more protections for our children.

Join us for the Welcoming Schools Capitol Day — press conference at 11 am and legislative meetings at 1 pm!

CAIR-Philadelphia seeks a Staff Attorney / Civil Rights Attorney with civil litigation experience to develop and litigat...
04/16/2026

CAIR-Philadelphia seeks a Staff Attorney / Civil Rights Attorney with civil litigation experience to develop and litigate cases addressing systemic civil rights violations affecting American Muslims and other communities.

This role will help lead impact litigation and civil rights advocacy in Pennsylvania. The attorney will work closely with the Legal Director to identify strategic cases and advance CAIR’s broader civil rights objectives.

Learn more and apply 👉 pa.cair.com/careers/attorney

04/16/2026

ED Ahmet Tekelioglu delivering testimony before Philadelphia City Council on the civil rights implications of intensified federal immigration enforcement and its impact on Muslim communities across our city.

Drawing on decades of documented surveillance and profiling, the testimony underscored how Black and immigrant Muslim communities have long been subjected to disproportionate scrutiny—from the targeting of Black Muslim leaders during the civil rights era to post-9/11 programs involving informants, mosque monitoring, and unchecked intelligence gathering. These patterns continue to shape present-day fears around enforcement and access to public life.

The testimony also highlighted how gaps in data governance and information-sharing can place vulnerable communities at risk and further erode trust in public institutions.

We are proud to share that ICE Out legislation passed with a unanimous vote. This marks an important step toward strengthening protections, establishing clearer accountability, and ensuring that all residents can safely access city services without fear.

This past weekend, CAIR Philadelphia was proud to support MIST Philly 2026 and stand alongside the next generation of Mu...
04/11/2026

This past weekend, CAIR Philadelphia was proud to support MIST Philly 2026 and stand alongside the next generation of Muslim leaders and changemakers.

Our team was on the ground throughout the weekend providing legal support, helping ensure that students, organizers, and families could focus on what matters most: building community, expressing themselves, and showing up fully as who they are.

MIST is more than a competition, it’s a space where young Muslims are affirmed, celebrated, and empowered

Help us pack Philadelphia City Hall for Monday’s ICE Out hearing! Philadelphians want our city to be free from Trump’s t...
04/10/2026

Help us pack Philadelphia City Hall for Monday’s ICE Out hearing!

Philadelphians want our city to be free from Trump’s tactics of deportation, fear, surveillance, and violence.
The ICE Out legislation protects our immigrant neighbors and strengthens Philadelphia’s Welcoming City policies — no matter immigration status. Join us to demand that City Council votes YES on all seven pieces of the ICE Out legislation!

😀 Monday, April 13 at 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
🙂 City Council, Room 400 (4th Floor)
🧐 Council hearing + first vote
😮 Lunch provided, and bring a snack!

Address

1501 Cherry Street
Philadelphia, PA
19102

Telephone

+12675156710

Website

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