DOHA: Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah Foundation for Humanitarian Services (RAF) collected QR24m in donations last year to build mosques in several countries.
The donation campaign was launched in Qatar and citizens and expatriates made generous contributions to the cause.
With the money, some 375 mosques were built by RAF in 23 countries in three continents, according to a report posted on RAF’s website.
The donation campaign launched by RAF for the purpose evoked massive response, so much so that in one call-in radio programme, QR5m was raised.
The radio program ‘Abwab Al Rahma’ (the Doors of Mercy) was organised by RAF in collaboration with Radio of Holy Quran.
The donation drive aimed to build 80 mosques in five Asian and African countries, including 30 in Ghana, 15 in Malawi and 10 each in Niger, India and Kenya.
The cost of building a mosque varies from country to country.
For instance, a donor should part with QR49,000 to build a mosque in Ghana. However, it will cost QR55,000 in Malawi and QR53,800 in Niger.
The costs are bit higher in India and Kenya — QR58,900 to build a mosque in India, while in Kenya the cost may be around QR69,700, the RAF report said.
Of the 375 mosques built last year, 66 were in Ghana and 58 in Mali.
Mauritania had a share of 49 and Ben 37. India and the Philippines had 21 mosques each.
Some 16 mosques were built in Niger and the remaining mosques were built in Thailand, Kenya, Senegal, Somalia, Malawi, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Morocco, Ethiopia, Kyrgyzstan, Yemen, Brunei, Tajikistan and Burkina Faso. The Peninsula
