Local mosque in the Maryland, Baltimore, have partnered with a local American Muslim civil rights group to collect donations for refugees arriving from Afghanistan.
Dar Al-Taqwa Mosque in Ellicott City is one of three mosques partnering with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) to accept donations, CBS Baltimore reported.
“We are collecting different items for Afghan refugees arriving to the area,” said Zainab Chaudry, CAIR Maryland Director.
“Everything you need in order to function on a daily basis are items that these families are going to need.”
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For the past few days, the world’s attention has been gripped with the news of Taliban seizing power in Afghanistan.
The fall of Kabul took place on Sunday, August 15, two weeks before the US was set to complete its troop withdrawal after a costly two-decade war.
Hassan El-Kharbibi, Executive Director of Dar Al-Taqwa Mosque, said the response to help refugees was extraordinary.
“The response was amazing and this is not only the Muslim community, this is the community at large,” he said.
As more refugees arrive in the US, Azim Salehi, a member of the Dar-Al-Taqwa mosque, is trying to help his own family get out of Kabul and bring them here to Maryland.
“They are relying on me to do something for them,” he said.
To help those who have already arrived, CAIR will be accepting donation till early next month.
“Our goal is to collect as many items as possible,” Chaudry added.
“These are human beings who are going through a very hard time, we need to help and we are happy to help and I hope that this will be enough for them,” El-Kharbibi said.
CAIR efforts have not been limited to helping refugees only.
Over the past days, the Muslim civil rights group has been using Afghanistan news to stop the spread of falsehoods toward refugees, US Muslims, and Islam.
On the other hand, the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) issued a statement to support President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw the US forces from Afghanistan.
ICNA welcomed the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, saying it has led to the death of hundreds of Americans and tens of thousands of Afghans.