Funds for Haiti siblings

The Islamic Educational Center of Orange County, like other religious organizations and institutions throughout the county, has been raising funds to help earthquake victims in Haiti.

Although Haiti does not have a large Muslim population, the Islamic community is following the teachings of its religion by helping the victims of the earthquake, said the center’s leader, Imam Sayed Moustafa Al-Qazwini.

“This is a humanitarian issue, and our religion, the Islamic faith, considers all humanity as brothers and sisters,” Al-Qazwini said. “We come from one source, and we share the same pain and suffering in tragedy. It’s our religious teaching that we stand and share with the people and try to help and bring some relief to those who suffer the most.”

Al-Qazwini said he encourages each member to make a $100 donation during his speeches.

So far, the center has raised more than $10,000 in donations to help those in Haiti who were affected by the Jan. 12 temblor by providing them with food, medicine and shelter. Al-Qazwini said he was able to locate some people in Haiti and entrusted them with helping those in need.

“I instructed them to give the help to both Muslims and non-Muslims,” Al-Qazwini said. “I said look after the ones who need it the most. I heard on the radio several interviews by some Haitian people that they do not trust their government. So, I really wanted to bypass the government and get the food and medicine to the people themselves.”

The educational center also vowed to rebuild a mosque that was demolished in Port-au-Prince by the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that is believed to have killed tens of thousands and displaced upward of a million people.

In addition to the money going for food and shelter, three of the center’s members have pledged to help rebuild the mosque, Al-Qazwini said.

The educational center will send a contractor in April to assess the damage, then pay to get the mosque rebuilt.

Meanwhile, Islamic Relief USA, a nonprofit organization that works to alleviate poverty from around the world, held a fundraising dinner Sunday for Haiti at the Sheraton Hotel in Anaheim, said Mostafa Mahboob, Islamic Relief’s communications manager in Buena Park. About 300 people attended, and more than $100,000 was donated, he said.

The dinner was sponsored by the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, which serves as an umbrella for mosques in Southern California, the Council on American Islamic Relations, the Muslim Students Assn. West and the Muslim Public Affairs Council, among others. The funds will go directly to help victims in Haiti.

“The Haitian people lived through severe deprivation in the past,” Al-Qazwini said. “Unfortunately, they were struck with this new set of trials and tribulation and I think we have to stand with them and show them that God is merciful and compassionate, and through some of his agents, he will get them help.”