Muslim community hopes to build mosque in Leamington
Muslims in Leamington, Ont. hope to raise $400,000 to build a mosque in the town
A growing congregation in Leamington has members of the Muslim-faith raising money to build their own mosque in the municipality.
Members say it started out with about five people, but has grown over the last 10 years. They have been renting a small store in the town, but two years ago St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church provided space to rent to hold their prayers. It`s grown since then, often up to 70 adults now show up for prayers.
"We were looking for something that could accommodate these numbers," said Dr. Basel El-Tawil, a member of the community.
They were able to find a piece of land in Leamington, but have yet to close the deal. So far, they have raised more than the half of what's needed for the $400,000 lot.
El-Tawil hopes their goal is met so they can build the mosque by the end of the year.
"It's a place for gathering, for refugees and the rest of the Muslim community here in Leamington," said El-Tawil. "It's a place where you know it will be safe and good for the kids, for the families together."
They have been working with Windsor Islamic Association to raise money. The new mosque will become a part of the association. Imam Mohamed Al-Gammali said Syrian families have settled in Leamington and having a mosque would mean a lot to them.
"We thought that our obligation to help them as newcomers to find a place for them to keep their identity, to come together, not only just for religious purpose even for other social life to connect to each other, help one another," he said.
The Windsor Islamic Association will have a fundraiser for the new mosque Jan. 19, but they are also crowdfunding. The mosque will have a prayer hall and rooms for classes like Arabic and the Qur'an.
"They are growing so we have to help them for their basic needs."