Later today, the San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR‑SFBA), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, plans to hold a media availability welcoming home Adil Jakvani, a local Bay Area resident returning from Egypt after participating in the Global March to Gaza.
The Global March to Gaza brought together more than 4,000 volunteers from over 80 countries, including doctors, students, clergy, artists, and human rights advocates, who traveled through Cairo, Al-Arish, and the Sinai Peninsula to peacefully call for an end to Israel’s blockade and the opening of a humanitarian corridor at the Rafah border crossing.
Media are invited to speak with Jakvani upon his arrival:
WHAT: Media availability with Adil Jakvani following his return from the Global March to Gaza
WHEN: Today, Tuesday, June 17
TIME: 1:35 p.m., United Airlines Flight 900
WHERE: San Francisco International Airport, Terminal G, International Arrivals (outside Customs & Border Protection exit)
CONTACT: Lorrie Adam, CAIR‑SFBA Communications Manager – ladam@cair.com, 408.498.5779
“By returning home, Adil brings with him the voices of those crying out against starvation, ethnic cleansing and genocide,” said Zahra Billoo, CAIR-SFBA Executive Director. “His courage and commitment shine a spotlight on the urgent need for a permanent ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian access, and an end to the genocide that continues to devastate Gaza.”
She added: “CAIR‑SFBA stands in solidarity with all who risked arrest, detention, and deportation to raise awareness and restore humanity to Gaza. We commend Adil Jakvani and everyone who participated in the march for their courage, and we will keep fighting alongside them to amplify the call for justice, pressure lawmakers to act, and demand immediate humanitarian relief for the people of Gaza.”
BACKGROUNDER:
Jakvani returned earlier than planned after Egyptian authorities repeatedly blocked marchers from reaching Rafah and urged many to leave the country for their safety.
SEE: Gaza march activists say participants in Egypt beaten, detained
In a statement, Jakvani said:
“I went because I felt I had to. I joined thousands from over 80 countries who came to Egypt in peaceful protest, united by our shared demand to end the siege on Gaza, open the border for aid, and bring justice and freedom to the Palestinian people.
“But we were blocked at every turn. The Egyptian government refused to let us gather, march, or speak in one voice. When we tried to head toward Rafah via Ismailiyah, we were stopped at checkpoints. My group had our passports confiscated for over six hours. We responded with a peaceful sit-in but were ultimately forced to turn back.
“Others stayed behind, only to face detention, deportation, or harassment. And when organizers were targeted, we were urged to leave Egypt for our own safety. That’s why I came home sooner than expected—because even in a peaceful, humanitarian effort, our presence was treated as a threat.
“We contacted the U.S. embassy in Cairo. Their response? Silence. Inaction. No protection, no solidarity, no support. Just like they’ve offered nothing to Gaza, except more weapons and more suffering.
“Though I returned heartbroken, I also returned inspired—because while governments failed, the people did not. That hope fuels our next steps.”
The march occurred amid a deepening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Since March 2, 2025, Israel has maintained a full blockade, cutting off deliveries of food, medicine, fuel, and electricity, pushing more than 2.2 million Palestinians toward famine.
CAIR‑SFBA is an office of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: Lorrie Adam, CAIR‑SFBA Communications Manager – ladam@cair.com, 408.498.5779