Beijing Muslims donate for tsunami-hit countries
17/1/2005 18:01
A donation center at the community service office of Niujie community, a
compact area inhabited by the Hui nationality, have received large sums of
donation in the past days since its establishment decades ago.
The donated
money will be used to help the people lived in the devastated areas of countries
hit by the strong tsunamis late last month.
"The people of both the Han and
Hui nationalities in Beijing are really concerned about the situation out
there," said Zhang Jiahong, head of the service office.
He said most of the
donated money came from families or individuals. Some people donated more than
1,000 yuan (US$125). The sum is about half the average monthly income of
ordinary Beijing residents.
"For the Muslims, helping the people in need is
both one of the religious activities of obligation nature that we should
conduct," said Li Dongwen, an Imam with the Niujie Mosque.
"Some countries
hit by the tidal waves are Muslim countries. As Chinese Muslims, we should offer
our hands to help them," he said.
On hearing the tsunamis, the Islamic
Association of China expressed its condolences over the heavy loss of lives and
property to the countries ravaged.
Xinhua
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