Muslim-American group urges public, Biden to increase support for those aiding quake victims

By Rabia Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization urged the American public and the Biden administration Wednesday to increase support for those aiding the victims of Monday’s powerful earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria.

"We urge all American Muslims and the broader public to increase their support for the heroes working to assist those affected by the earthquake through donations, volunteering, or any other means they can," Nihad Awad executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), said in a statement.

CAIR also encouraged imams, or Muslim religious leaders, across the country to "devote their Friday sermons to urging the community to stand with quake victims in Türkiye and Syria."

Earlier on Wednesday, representatives of CAIR met with Turkish ambassador to the US Hasan Murat Mercan and expressed their condolences for the victims of the deadly earthquakes that hit southern provinces of the country.

At least 9,057 people were killed and 52,979 injured after 7.7 and 7.6-magnitude earthquakes shook Pazarcık and Elbistan districts Monday in Kahramanmaras province.

Nine other provinces have been affected by the deadly quakes including Malatya, Adiyaman, Hatay and Osmaniye.

The Syrian government’s Health Ministry said at least 1,262 people were killed and 2,285 others injured in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama and Tartus from the quakes.