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New Islamic Center in Paducah Welcomes All

New Islamic Center in Paducah Welcomes All
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By Tim Brockwell
Aug. 27, 2015 | PADUCAH, KY
By Tim Brockwell Aug. 27, 2015 | 06:00 PM | PADUCAH, KY
Paducah area Muslims who once had to travel more than an hour to attend services now have a place to worship in their own community.

Amna Ali, president of the recently established Islamic Center of Paducah on Berger Road, says her family and other local Muslim families wanted to set up an Islamic Center here in Paducah so they wouldn't have to make the hour long drive to Carbondale, IL to worship.

In December, they purchased a vacant church building and began renovations.  Although there is still some work to be done on the facility, the center now offers five daily prayer services and Sunday school. Plans are also in the works to host interfaith dialogues with other area religious organizations.

Ali said the center now has about 65 regular attendees, and on occasion she has seen more than 100 in attendance. She says there are plans in the works to start some community outreach programs, including a scholarship for underprivileged youth. 

"We want to offer some scholarships to underprivileged students here in the local community," Ali said. "We will be laying out lots of projects in the future."

Ali and her husband, Dr. Shaukat Ali have lived in the Paducah community for 15 years. She says she is thankful for the outpouring of support they have received from the local community.

"We are blessed to have the Paducah community here. They helped us a lot in forming up the mosque." Ali said.   One thing Ali stresses about the Islamic Center is that it is open to everyone, regardless of their beliefs. She says she hopes that this open door policy will help build a better understanding of Islam in the community, and bring people together.

"All people of all faith are welcome here," Ali said. "We have not been associated with any political integration. We strictly follow the Islamic Society of North America. It's a 100 percent religious organization."

Stephanie Choudhury, who is Catholic, is married to the center's vice president, Iftakhar Choudhury. As someone in an interfaith marriage, she says she understands how inclusiveness can help people from all walks of life understand each other. She says plans are in the works to host an open house at the center.

"I think the fact that there is a center here now is going to be really wonderful for the community," Choudhury said. "We are planning to have in the fall an open house for the community so that people can come and see the mosque and meet the people. Actually, I think most people will be surprised that they already know so many Muslims in this community."

On the Net:

Islamic Center of Paducah Facebook Page
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