US Muslims raise Funds for Families of California Victims

California – A collective of Muslim groups in the US have raised almost $30,000 over the last two days for the families of victims of the San Bernardino shooting spree at a social service centre that left 14 dead and 17 wounded.

The Muslims United for San Bernardino initiative is seeking to raise at least $50,000 for immediate needs of the bereaved relatives, Al Jazeera quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

“If we exceed the $50,000 goal, we can even assist the families with long-term expenses or possibly donate to the regional center where the shooting took place,” the group said.

The project was launched on Friday by Faisal Qazi, the president of MiNDS, an award-winning charitable organisation based in southern California, and Tarek El-Messidi, a prominent Islamic “social entrepreneur”.

It has also been endorsed by numerous Muslim groups, including the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California (ISCSC) and the Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR).

Qazi told Al Jazeera that the fund was developed before the alleged shooters – who were Muslims – were identified, and thus it was not initiated as an effort to prevent anti-Muslim sentiment in the event of a backlash.