Seattle (IINA) - The Muslim community in Seattle, Washington held its annual charitable event called "Day of Dignity" for the homeless in the area. The participants said it shows the true nature of the Islamic religion, The Seattle Times online news reported.
More than 200 people attended the event, which was an outreach program for Seattle’s homeless, being organized for the last nine years consecutively by Seattle’s Muslim community and Aziz Junejo, one of their leaders. For three hours on Saturday, people who too rarely receive tender care got full attention with a meal, basic medical care, toiletries, massages and the like.
In light of the recent Paris and Bamako terror attacks, Junejo and other volunteers said they hope people can still see Islam for what it really is: a peaceful religion.
“We have been in this country and our example speaks to who we are,” said Junejo, an organizer in the local Muslim community. “We shouldn’t have to apologize for people who don’t even follow their faith. These are just terrorists; they have nothing to do with Islam or Muslim.”
When the program started in 2006, Junejo and other founders called it Humanitarian Day, but in its third year, they collaborated with the national group Islamic Relief and began calling it Day of Dignity, which is a national event.
Islamic Relief provides tote bags and hygiene kits that include towels and toothpaste, but the rest of the event, which includes the coat distribution as well as breakfast, haircuts, medical services, acupuncture, toys for kids and lifeline cellphones with prepaid minutes, is organized by local volunteers.
“This year the community raised $20,000, up from about $13,000, because many people at last year’s event responded in a survey that they needed sleeping bags. “The coat/sleeping bags are more expensive than offering hoodies and long underwear, so they needed to increase the budget”, Junejo said.
Because one of Islam’s five pillars is Zakat, which means charity or taking care of and giving to the poor, Junejo said he had no problem coming up with the money by reaching out to the Muslim community and Seattle-area mosques.
Some of the homeless people return year after year and recognize the Muslim volunteers. Peterson went for the first time last year and said he appreciates what the Muslim community is doing, especially this year with the coat, because it is actually something they can use, he said.
On Saturday morning, Yazan Al-Salkini, 19 year-old, was stationed at the breakfast table, passing out burritos and water. Al-Salkini has been in the U.S. for two months. He is a refugee who lived in Jordan for three years after fleeing his home country of Syria.
Coming to the U.S. for a better life with his parents and three younger siblings, he said he is hurt that the images of Muslims and Syrian refugees are being based on the actions of ISIS, and he wants people to see what being Muslim is really about.
“DAISH (ISIS) does not represent Islam,” Al-Salkini said through a translator. “We want people to understand that there is a huge difference.”
Mohammad Abdul Raheem, 20 year-old, a refugee from Iraq, has lived in Seattle for three years. He said he is disappointed in people’s reactions toward Muslims.
“We love humanity … we don’t discriminate,” he said. “Our religion taught us to love.”
SM/IINA
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service - if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read the FAQ at http://ift.tt/jcXqJW.
No comments:
Post a Comment