Muslim groups help rebuild black churches burned down in US

Muslim groups have launched an online fundraiser to help rebuild several historically African-American churches that were burned to the ground in the United States.

The organizations that have called on Muslims to reach out during the holy month of Ramadan managed to raise $23,000 in five days.

"We are calling on you to help add our support to faith communities across the country pooling their resources to rebuild these churches," the groups wrote on the campaign LaunchGood fundraising page.

"All houses of worship are sanctuaries, a place where all should feel safe, a place we can seek refuge when the world is too much to bear," it wrote.

The coalition includes US organizations, Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative, and the Arab American Association of New York, as well as digital startup Ummah Wide.

Like African-Americans, American Muslims are also vulnerable to intimidation, but not to the same extent as the black community, according to the groups.

Organizer Imam Zaid Shakir said Muslims can understand the “climate of racially inspired hate and bigotry that is being reignited in this country.”

He said the American Muslim community should stand in solidarity with African-Americans.

“To many, it is clear that these are attacks on black culture, black religion and black lives,” the coalition wrote.

“These kinds of attacks on black churches are a very old form of intimidation in the South, historically used to strike fear into the hearts of Black people,” it added.

At least eight churches have burnt down after a young white man shot dead nine African-American worshippers at the black church Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17.

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