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ISLAMIC INSTITUTE ORGANIZES BLOOD
DRIVE TO AID VICTIMS OF TERROR (Washington, DC)-The Islamic Institute (II) today organized a blood drive to aid the victims of the tragic acts of terror in New York City and Washington, DC. Members of the Institute's Washington office united with other organizations to donate blood to Red Cross blood banks in the DC area. The Institute has also called for state chapters and affiliates nationwide, including Michigan, Illinois, New Jersey, Minnesota, Iowa, Florida, Missouri, Texas, Maryland, Virginia and California to organize similar blood drives among the American Muslim communities in their states. II is also working with the Muslim Student Association of the United States and Canada (MSA-National) to organize blood drives in universities and colleges across the nation. The Islamic Institute urges all Americans to unite in helping the victims of this attack by giving blood and other aid. You can reach the Red Cross Blood Donation hotline at 1-800-448-3543. You can also find more information about how to donate blood or needed relief funds at the website of the American Red Cross: www.redcross.org The Islamic Institute also called on all Muslim Americans and all mosques to designate this Friday, the Muslim holy day, a day of mourning, and for all Imams to offer a prayer for America and to remember the victims of this tragedy and their families in Friday prayers. II also urged mosques to hold blood drives at the mosques on Friday. "Muslims and all Americans suffer the pain, the loss, and the tragedy of yesterday's horrific evil act," said Abdulwahab Alkebsi, the Islamic Institute's Executive Director. He added, "we all suffer the anxiety and the vulnerability, but Muslim Americans should not have to also be under siege, in fear for the safety of their families because of ignorance and prejudice that leads some Americans to collectively blame Muslims for this heinous act." He also added, "Regardless of who is ultimately found to be responsible for these attacks, no group or community should be treated as suspect. " The Islamic Institute therefore urges the media for restraint and to withhold from irresponsible reporting that might incite hate crimes against American Muslims similar to those in the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing. For more information
please contact Communications Director (202) 955-7171 Islamic Institute |