(PHILADELPHIA, PA, 7/28/2025) – On Tuesday, July 29, the Philadelphia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Philadelphia) and Emgage Pennsylvania (Emgage-PA) will co-host organized Muslim City Hall Day in Philadelphia, which is designed to help Muslim Philadelphians’ engagement with city-level politics and policymakers.
WHAT: Muslim City Hall Day by Emgage-PA and CAIR-Philadelphia
WHEN: Tuesday, July 29, 2025; 10am-3pm; Press conference: 2:00pm at Flag Raising Area.
WHERE: Philadelphia City Hall
WHO: Emgage Pennsylvania & CAIR- Philadelphia, together with Muslim Philadelphians and elected officials
LIVESTREAM LINK: instagram.com/cairphilly
CONTACT: CAIR-Philadelphia Executive Director Ahmet Tekelioglu; atekelioglu@cair.com; 617-401-5397, Emgage Pennsylvania Senior Advisor, Salima Suswell; ssuswell@emgageusa.org; (215) 760-0558
Organized under the auspices of Councilman Curtis Jones of 4th District, the Philadelphia Muslim City Hall Day will include advocacy meetings with City Council members and other elected and appointed offices.
Muslim Philadelphians plan to advocate for steps including
✔️ Religious attire protections
✔️ Halal food access in public institutions
✔️ Prayer space in schools and public buildings
✔️ Eid recognition citywide
✔️ Free speech protections for Muslim students & educators
✔️ Community-driven gun violence prevention
✔️ Sanctuary & safety for immigrant families
The day is scheduled to culminate with a press conference starting at 2:00 p.m. at the Flag Raising Area in front of the City Hall.
On behalf of Emgage Pennsylvania, Geeda al-Haffar said: “This event highlights the power of collective action and the importance of Muslim representation in local government. By engaging directly with our elected officials, we are strengthening our community’s influence and ensuring our concerns are addressed at the highest levels. Emgage-PA is dedicated to empowering Muslim voices and fostering meaningful political participation to create lasting change in our city.“
On behalf of CAIR-Philadelphia, Ahmet Tekelioglu said “As we gather for Muslim City Hall Day, we will affirm that civic engagement is a core part of our faith. Muslim Americans are not guests in the democratic process—we are stakeholders, advocates, and leaders. At CAIR-Philadelphia, we are proud to stand with our communities as we raise our voices for justice, equity, and accountable representation in every level of government.“
About CAIR
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
About Emgage
Emgage educates and mobilizes Muslim American voters in support of policies that enable our communities to thrive and democracy to flourish.
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CONTACT: CAIR-Philadelphia Executive Director Ahmet Tekelioglu, atekelioglu@cair.com, 617-401-5397; Emgage Pennsylvania Senior Advisor, Salima Suswell; ssuswell@emgageusa.org; (215) 760-0558
