On September 7th at 5:00 p.m., the American Uyghur Community held the opening ceremony for the newly purchased location of the Uyghur Islamic Center.
In addition to the local Uyghur communities from Virginia and Maryland, more than 300 people from various states across the U.S. (including Texas, New York, Florida, and Pennsylvania) attended the event. Among the attendees were Uyghur, Uzbek, Turkish, and other Muslim brothers and sisters, representatives of Islamic organizations, and members of Uyghur and East Turkistan organizations.
The ceremony opened with a Qur’an recitation by our Uyghur Qari, followed by Brother Arslan Hidayet, who served as the event’s host. Zulfikar Mustafa, a board member of the Uyghur Islamic Center, briefly summarized the progress and activities of the center since its establishment during 2021. Arslan Abdurraziq presented the future plans for the center, while Muhammed Uyghur detailed the financial situation, including the amount raised, its usage, and the current economic standing.
One of the invited guests, Rafi, the president of the Dar-Alnoor Mosque and representative of the Justice for All Organization, gave a speech emphasizing the importance of an independent center for Uyghurs, and that supporting Uyghurs is a responsibility for all Muslims.
Additionally, a congratulatory video message from Sheikh Yasir Qadhi and the well-known American preacher Omar Suleiman was played, celebrating the opening of the Uyghur Islamic Center.
A fundraising session was then held to repay the loan (Qarz-e-Hasanah) taken to purchase and renovate the property. The atmosphere during the fundraiser was lively, and in just half an hour, $225,000 was collected in cash and pledges. Generous contributions came from the Philadelphia Al-Bukhari Uzbek Mosque, the Texas Uyghur Community, Dar-Alnoor Mosque, two Uyghur Hajim brothers, and local Uyghur communities.
A particularly moving moment during the event was when two Uyghur sisters donated their valuable wedding rings and gold jewelry. These items were later bought and returned to the sisters, and sold amount were donated to the center, demonstrating both the strength of Uyghur women and the traditional role of Uyghur men in protecting their families and loved ones, which deeply touched everyone present.
The event concluded with a speech by Imam Abdurrazak Qari, who spoke about the significance of the mosque and the role of the community, followed by a prayer. Finally, attendees enjoyed a dinner of traditional Uyghur dishes such as polo and samsa, prepared by volunteers from the Uyghur Islamic Center, before freely exploring the new center.
