US Muslims Pledge $10
Million for Hurricane Relief
Rescue workers move along Peoples
Avenue in an air boat in New Orleans |
Chicago,
IL: A coalition of major American Islamic groups meeting at
the annual convention of the Islamic Society of North America
(ISNA) in Chicago announced a pledge to raise $10 million
in humanitarian relief for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
The coalition also announced the formation of a Muslim Hurricane
Relief Task Force (MHRTF) to coordinate the aid effort. MHRTF
members include (in alphabetical order) Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR), Islamic Circle of North American (ICNA),
Islamic Relief, ISNA, Kind Hearts, Life for Relief and Development,
Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA), Muslim American Society
(MAS), Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), and Muslim Ummah
of North American (MUNA).
Other groups who agree to the task force’s guidelines
will be added as the relief efforts develop. MHRTF guidelines
for collection and distribution of funds will focus on financial
transparency and accountability as set forth in relevant government
regulations and standards. No proselytizing of hurricane victims
will be allowed by any member of the task force.
“It is a national and Islamic obligation to assist one’s
neighbors when they are in need,” said ISNA Secretary
General Sayyid Syeed. “The American Muslim community
pledges to do its part in helping those Americans, of all
faiths, who suffered such great losses in lives and property.”
Syeed said MHRTF will announce a comprehensive list of Muslim
relief group that promise to adhere to the task force’s
guidelines.
The initial MHRTF action plan includes an assessment of the
humanitarian needs that can be met by American Muslim financial
and human resources, as well as a similar assessment of the
Islamic community’s ability to meet those needs.
More than $2 million in hurricane aid has already been disbursed
by Islamic charities. Muslim relief workers are currently
on the ground in Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, and Mississippi.
Other task force efforts will focus on evaluating the material
and spiritual requirements of Gulf Coast Muslims.
There are an estimated seven million Muslims in the United
States.
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair-net.org
Adina Lekovic, 213,383-3443, communications@mpac.org
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