: U.S. Muslims Reach Out to Refugee Brethren

At a conference last weekend sponsored by the Islamic Society of North America, Muslim leaders discussed improving outreach to refugees from Muslim countries (about 60% of all refugees in the US) that have had difficulty adjusting to American life. Most Muslim refugees in the US (mostly Bosnian and Kosovar) are currently assisted by US government agencies, non-profit agencies, and Evangelical and Catholic faith-based groups (which are now eligible for federal grants under President George W. Bush’s faith-based initiatives program). What is ironic, of course, is that although the need has been identified for Islamic outreach (even by non-Muslim organizations), early relief efforts by Muslim charities have been thwarted by the federal government because of suspected terrorist financing. However, awareness is seen as part of the solution. “The Muslims in America have not realized the magnitude of the problem of the refugees,” said University of Chicago assistant professor Abdul Basit. “Most Muslims are completely unaware of the problem.”

Zahed Amanullah is associate editor of altmuslim.com.  He is based in London, England.