The Red and Black

Issue date: 10/2/03 Section: News

Approximately 250 people of different ethnicities and religious backgrounds showed their solidarity as they came together to help a religious group in need Tuesday night.

The University's Pakistani Student Association (PSA) organized a fund-raising dinner at the Tate Student Center to help rebuild a house in Savannah which burned down. Hundreds of Muslims were worshipping temporarily.

The program for the event stated, "We are coming together in an effort to show that we stand in solidarity against all crimes of hate -- regardless of creed, class, religion, or nationality."

Sophia Qureshi, a senior from Alpharetta and president of PSA, said Tuesday night's dinner raised $2,100, and the organization raised an additional $700 from donations.

Qureshi said PSA is a very small organization on campus with only six active members.

She said she was surprised with the turnout at the dinner, which became largely known about through word-of-mouth.

"We thought we'd have a small dinner, like 50 people but then we started telling people about it, and it gained a momentum of its own," she said.

Two prayer rooms, a children's play area and a large library including the Quran, the Islamic holy book, were destroyed in the fire.

Sakib Qureshi, Sophia's brother, made a film documenting the damage to the house to show at the dinner.

"I was definitely very moved," he said. "The first moments when I got there were so spiritual."

Sophia Qureshi said "it is pretty obvious that (the fire) was a hate crime," although an official investigation has not yet been completed.

There were many acts of hate toward the Muslims in Savannah preceding the fire.

Three weeks prior to the fire, five bullets were shot at the same house. Also, members of the Muslim community received threatening letters, one of which said "This is our country!"

Qureshi said hate crimes against Muslims in the United States have been more prevalent since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"The state of being a Muslim in this country or non-Muslim that even looks like a Muslim is not good right now," he said. "The burning of the Mosque is a tangible symbol, and it's a call to action for us to start standing up against these actions."

The PSA still is accepting donations to help rebuild the mosque in Savannah.

Anyone interested in contributing can contact Qureshi by e-mail at sophieq@uga.edu.

Checks should be made payable to the Islamic Center of Savannah.

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