The Philly Muslim Freedom Fund (PMFF) is a bail fund for Muslims incarcerated in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area founded in the wake of the police-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. ¹ It claims to be “rooted in an Islamic ethos of social justice.” ²

Background

The Philly Muslim Freedom Fund was founded in the wake of the death of George Floyd to raise funds to pay the bails of Muslims incarcerated in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area. It also pays legal fees, bonds, and the process of reentering society. It claims to be one of the only Muslim-oriented bail funds in the United States, linking to the similar Believers Bail Out organization. ^{3 4}

It was “soft launched” in the spring of 2021. In its first year of operation, PMFF raised more than $15,000 through selling merchandise like shirts and prints in collaboration with Muslim artists. It also donated 50 Qur’ans to incarcerated Muslims as part of an ongoing Qur’an distribution program. ⁵

The PMFF is dedicated to former Black Panther and Muslim “Mama” Aisha El-Mekki, whom it describes as a “matriarch in our community” and the embodiment of the “revolutionary spirit.” ⁶

Activities

The Philly Muslim Freedom Fund both performs financial services for incarcerated Muslims and advocates for left-wing political change. The organization advocates for the abolition of solitary confinement, cash bail, and the prison-industrial complex, and also calls for the creation of a better system for rehabilitation. Its stated aim is to “combat a carcel state and criminal injustice system built on racism, classism, and Islamophobia.” ⁷

In a February 2024 article by the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philly Muslim Freedom Fund was described as an organization that “meets the unique needs of incarcerated Muslims.” It quoted a co-founder, Abbas Naqvi, who said “Mass incarceration impacts a lot of marginalized communities, especially Muslims […] and Philadelphia is a very Muslim-centric city.” At that time, the Philadelphia Bail Fund had recently closed, making the PMFF one of “few community bail funds” left in Philadelphia; nevertheless, co-founder Imrul Mazid claimed that they “needed a bail fund that caters specifically to the unique needs of Muslims in our communities.” ⁸

The organization claims that the Muslim population is “overrepresented” in Pennsylvania prisons, sharing that Muslims only make up one percent of its population while making up about 20 percent of its incarcerated individuals in 2017, according to a study from the D.C. nonprofit Muslim Advocates. The PMFF also told the Philadelphia Inquirer that its work intersects with anti-Black racism because Philadelphia has one of the largest populations of Black Muslims in the United States and Black people are allegedly more likely to be stopped by police officers. ⁹

One of its first clients was Abdul Maalik, a formerly incarcerated African American man who converted to Islam in prison. Maalik was arrested on the side of the road while helping his friend change a flat tire. The police found out that he was on parole and searched the vehicle, discovering a firearm that, according to Maalik, was not his. Another friend directed him to the PMFF, which helped him raise funds to pay his legal fees. His lawyer, Susan Lin, successfully defended Maalik by proving in court that the police searched his vehicle without a warrant. Maalik was released in June 2021, seven months after being arrested; the PMFF came to his aid again by helping him pay off his outstanding personal utility bill. ¹⁰

As of 2024, Maalik was helping the PMFF by coordinating the hiring of formerly incarcerated people at his place of work, a solar installation company called Solar States. ¹¹

1. Mikati, Massarah. “Philly Muslim Freedom Fund meets the unique needs of incarcerated Muslims — and it is one of the only such bail funds in the nation.” The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 28, 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024. https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/philly-muslim-freedom-fund-bail-community-20240228.html.
2.  “Uplifting Muslims oppressed by the carceral state.” Philly Muslim Freedom Fund. Accessed September 1, 2024. https://phillymuslimfreedomfund.org/.
3. Mikati, Massarah. “Philly Muslim Freedom Fund meets the unique needs of incarcerated Muslims — and it is one of the only such bail funds in the nation.” The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 28, 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024. https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/philly-muslim-freedom-fund-bail-community-20240228.html.
4. “About.” Believers Bail Out. Accessed September 1, 2024. https://believersbailout.org/about/
5. Mikati, Massarah. “Philly Muslim Freedom Fund meets the unique needs of incarcerated Muslims — and it is one of the only such bail funds in the nation.” The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 28, 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024. https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/philly-muslim-freedom-fund-bail-community-20240228.html.
6. “Uplifting Muslims oppressed by the carceral state.” Philly Muslim Freedom Fund. Accessed September 1, 2024. https://phillymuslimfreedomfund.org/.
7.  “Uplifting Muslims oppressed by the carceral state.” Philly Muslim Freedom Fund. Accessed September 1, 2024. https://phillymuslimfreedomfund.org/.
8. Mikati, Massarah. “Philly Muslim Freedom Fund meets the unique needs of incarcerated Muslims — and it is one of the only such bail funds in the nation.” The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 28, 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024. https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/philly-muslim-freedom-fund-bail-community-20240228.html.
9. Mikati, Massarah. “Philly Muslim Freedom Fund meets the unique needs of incarcerated Muslims — and it is one of the only such bail funds in the nation.” The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 28, 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024. https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/philly-muslim-freedom-fund-bail-community-20240228.html.
10. Mikati, Massarah. “Philly Muslim Freedom Fund meets the unique needs of incarcerated Muslims — and it is one of the only such bail funds in the nation.” The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 28, 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024. https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/philly-muslim-freedom-fund-bail-community-20240228.html.
11. Mikati, Massarah. “Philly Muslim Freedom Fund meets the unique needs of incarcerated Muslims — and it is one of the only such bail funds in the nation.” The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 28, 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024. https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/philly-muslim-freedom-fund-bail-community-20240228.html.