Iqaluit mosque fundraiser launched by Islamic Society of Nunavut

Organizers with the Islamic Society of Nunavut say they need more money to finish Nunavut'sfirst mosque, which is currently underconstruction inIqaluit.

The Islamic Society has enlisted the help of Islamic scholar Dr. Abdullah Hakim Quick. Quick launched a online crowd-funding campaign aweek ago with the goal of raising $100,000. As of early July 9the campaign had already raised nearly $62,000 with donations from around the world.

"Hopefully with these funds we will have enough to enclose the building and have the basic amenities but you always need more money to finish the interior," saidSadaqatAli,a long-timeIqaluitresident and volunteerco-ordinatorfor the mosque project.

Money left over after the building is finishedwill be transferred into programming, he said.

"We'd like to get it kick-started, not only for the Muslim community but for all of Iqaluit."

Construction has been underway for sixweeks and the buildingis beginning to take shape.Two floors have been built and the sewage line was connected on Wednesday.

Ali says the society plans to open the mosque by December this year.