We fight for our beautiful Muslim American communities, who deserve better.
Can you believe 2025 is at its end? So much has changed in such a short time. And I’ll be honest: a lot of those changes have been extremely concerning for our Muslim American communities. Islamophobia has risen sharply. The Federal government has weaponized ICE and the National Guard to terrorize immigrants. And Israel has become more brazen in its genocide in Gaza. How can we keep fighting in these dark times? I know my answer: at CAIR-Philadelphia, we fight because we believe our beautiful Muslim communities deserve justice and the ability to fearlessly exercise our civil rights.
Something big changed for me this year, too. After 18 years in the U.S., I became a citizen. Until now, I rarely felt that my immigration status mattered much. My life is here: my brilliant wife, Hena, our two wonderful children, Mehmet and Yusuf, and my work at CAIR, which empowers me to live my Muslim values every day. But the current climate made me wary. I started looking over my shoulder every time I left the house. I became afraid to visit my aging parents in Turkiye, in case I was detained on my return. Applying for citizenship felt like a way to protect the life I’ve built here.
So, what does it mean to become a citizen at this moment, on the eve of America’s 250th year, when immigrants who have built their lives here live in fear? For me, becoming a citizen is an act of hope. It affirms my belief in the best version of what America can be: a country where Muslim Americans and all communities live in peace and equity, in full recognition of their rights.
When I look beyond the headlines, I see what CAIR-Philadelphia is achieving every day. The Quran commands us to stand firmly for justice, even at the expense of ourselves, our family, our tribe. At CAIR-Philadelphia, we believe it’s our duty to lead our community to the frontlines and risk our own safety to defend our civil rights. And we’re winning. In the past year we have:
- Passed a Welcoming City Ordinance in Allentown, PA
- Won a formal apology and reinstatement by the City of Philadelphia for a 16-year-old Muslim lifeguard who was fired for her modest swimwear
- Moved several lawmakers to support H.R. 3565, the “Block The Bombs Act,” which would prevent the United States from transferring offensive weapons to Israel
- Provided legal services to our community valued at $925,000 through the work of legal team
- Assisted dozens of Muslim travelers with secondary inspection issues at area airports
- Supported student demonstrators exercising their right to free speech by protesting the War on Gaza
- Trained 325 community members in civil rights and liberties
- Partnered with InterAct Theater to showcase the story of African American Muslims on a major theater stage, On My Deen
- Hosted our first-ever Philadelphia Muslim Communities Arts and Culture Festival in partnership with ICPIC and MCF.
- Our interfaith, young professionals, and education pillars provided engaging and thoughtful programs serving diverse segments of our community
This road is long, but it leads toward justice. I know we are strong enough to keep fighting. But we need more resources. In 2026, we need to hire another attorney to increase our legal aid capacity, more organizers to help us increase our reach across Pennsylvania and Delaware, and a communications specialist to help spread our message. Will you help us reach our goal of raising $70,000 by December 31?
Stand with us today and invest in building the life our Muslim American communities deserve.
In Solidarity,
Dr. Ahmet Tekelioglu
Executive Director, CAIR-Philadelphia
