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U.S. Muslims pledge $10 million for hurricane relief
Major American Islamic groups form task force to coordinate humanitarian aid
CHICAGO, IL, Sept. 4, 2005 – A coalition of major American Islamic groups meeting at the annual convention of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) in Chicago today 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.
September 11, 2005
Muslim groups help Katrina victims on 9/11 anniversary
HOUSTON, Texas -- About 2,000 Muslim volunteers helped victims of Hurricane Katrina at the city's downtown convention center Sunday, the fourth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Muslim leaders from around the country who were in Houston for the volunteer effort said the anniversary was coincidental. But they welcomed the opportunity to highlight their faith's true meaning.
"We're not trying to prove anything, other than what our faith requires us to do," said Mahdi Bray, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based Muslim American Society. "What goes with our faith is to help others, to respond and show compassion when people need it, and I'm glad we can do it."
Parvez Ahmed, chairman of the board of the nonprofit Council on American-Islamic Relations, said Muslim leaders viewed Sunday's volunteer opportunity as another chance to show that the September 11 attacks were carried out by Islamic extremists who do not represent the true meaning of their faith.
Religious and community groups who volunteered to help at shelters picked through a random drawing what day they would work. Houston's Muslim community got Sunday.
"If today not only happens to be a day where we are feeding people and helping people and doing our Islamic duties ... but at the same time it also presents an opportunity to dispel myths about Islam and terrorism, then so be it," Ahmed said.
CAIR, along with other Muslim groups such as Islamic Relief and the Muslim American Society, are part of the Muslim Hurricane Relief Task Force, which is raising $10 million for victims of Katrina. Ahmed said the groups so far have raised between $3 million and $4 million……(Media Repors)
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/11/katrina.muslims.ap/index.html
Muslim world donations for Katrina victims
Muslim countries have pledged donations of more than one billion dollars for the relief efforts of devastation caused by the hurricane Katrina in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.
The total amount of Muslim's donations is one billion and 55 millions and 600 thousands dollars ($1,055,0600,000) as per following detail:
* Kuwait: $500 millions ($400 millions in oil, $100 million cash)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9187260/
* Saudi Arabia $255 millions
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/06/international.aid/index.html/ <http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/06/international.aid/index.html/>
* Qatar $100 millions
(http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/06/international.aid/index.html/)
* Libya $100 millions
http://emoodz.com/index.php?p=74
* Egypt $30 millions plus other aid
http://emoodz.com/index.php?p=74
* Algeria $30 millions
http://emoodz.com/index.php?p=74
* Tunisia $10 millions
http://emoodz.com/index.php?p=74
* US - Muslim Hurricane Relief Task Force (MHRTF) pledge $10 millions
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/06/international.aid/index.html/
*Jordan $5 millions plus other aid
http://emoodz.com/index.php?p=74
* Syria $5 millions
http://emoodz.com/index.php?p=74
* Morocco $5 millions
http://emoodz.com/index.php?p=74
* Bahrain $5 millions
http://www.tradearabia.com/tanews/newsdetails_snECO_article92654_cnt.html
* Lebanon $2 millions
http://emoodz.com/index.php?p=74
* Pakistan $1 million
http://emoodz.com/index.php?p=74
* Bangladesh $1 million
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/06/international.aid/index.html/ <http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/06/international.aid/index.html/
* Azerbaijan: $500,000
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/06/international.aid/index.html/ <http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/06/international.aid/index.html/
* Afghanistan $100,000
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/06/international.aid/index.html/
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