Deaf Muslim Literacy Project

Pictured above: Members of the Global Deaf Muslim Literacy and Community Integration project pose for a picture at a mosque.

TMO Staff Writer

The Global Deaf Muslim Literacy and Community Integration issued a press release appealing for help in its efforts to provide Islamic and other education to deaf Muslims. Deaf Muslims are a neglected minority, the press report alleges, in that compared to deaf groups among other religious faiths they receive almost no attention from mainstream Muslims. They need funding to provide access to Juma’a khutbahs and other teachings of Islam.

According to their estimated budget, the start up costs of the organization have been assessed to be roughly $240,000 for an office, operating cost and cost for the trips of fact-finding committees. For the trip to Madrid in Spain in July 2007, invitations will be issued to deaf associations to send a deaf Muslim representative financed by donations for accommodations, round air tickets, food for the duration of the meeting. Once donations are assured or given, we will write out invitations to 20 deaf representatives from other countries through their National Associations.

If you wish to contribute, here is the contact information: Nashiru Abdulai, President, abdulnash10@hotmail.com, Deaf Alumni of Rochester Institute of Technology; Patrons: Imam Rauf Bawany (Muslim Chaplain), Center for Religious Life, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester New York; rxbcpm@rit.edu; Imam Dr. Muhammad Sahfiq, Executive Director of Islamic Center of Rochester and Director of Interfaith Center, Nazareth College, Rochester NY; icr1@frontiernet.net; 585 442 0117.