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KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – Key Afghan and U.S. leaders came together to celebrate the opening of Kandahar Airfield’s first Islamic Center, July 21.
The KAF Islamic Center allows Muslims from any nation to pray in an environment built to accommodate the needs of their faith.
“This is a historic day and one for which we have been waiting many years,” said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Kendall, Kandahar Airfield Commander. “We celebrate the establishment of this center as a place for Muslims within our base community to practice their faith.”
A building used as a chai house was converted to an Islamic Center where Muslims on the base can pray.
“In the past we were praying at the chapel and so we would have to remove all the chairs and clean the floor and put down carpet before we could begin praying, then reverse the process before we left, taking up much of our time,” said Nisar Alvi, KAF Muslim Society representative.
The opening of the Islamic Center solves many issues related to prayer for Muslims on KAF.
“We are supposed to pray five times a day and now when people are available they can come to the center and pray before sunrise, at noon, at sunset and any time in between,” said Alvi.
Kandahar Airfield leaders understand the necessity for Muslims working on the base to have their own facility which meets the needs of their religion.
“The establishment of an Islamic cultural center at KAF is important in building bridges and is part of supporting the community and developing friendship,” said Kendall. “That’s a critical element in how we support the Afghan people, but also those who are working on this installation.”
The support for Muslims on KAF will help transform the cultural center into a more permanent structure.
“I hope that this will eventually become the first step towards the potential establishment of a more formal Mosque,” said Kendall.
For now, Muslims on KAF are thankful for a place of their own where they can practice their faith any time they need.
“I do not have the words and means to thank all those involved, all who contributed to this project in idea, in word or in action, but I pray for the success and highest rewards for this noble cause for all of them,” said Alvi.
| Date Taken: | 07.21.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 07.22.2011 11:34 |
| Story ID: | 74136 |
| Location: | KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 117 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Muslims on KAF have new place to pray, by SGT Jonathan Thomas, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
