Karbalaa Islamic Education Center facing possible eviction
April 10, 2016 By Times-Herald Newspapers Leave a Comment
Photo courtesy of the Karbalaa Islamic Education Center. Members of the Karbalaa Islamic Education Center practice their Islamic faith by attending prayer service led by Imam Husham Al-Husainy. The center is facing eviction for an unpaid loan, owing $60,000.
DEARBORN — One of the city's oldest Islamic centers is dealing with the a possible eviction due to an unpaid loan.
The Karbalaa Islamic Education Center, 15332 Warren Ave. was established in 1994 after renovating a former nightclub that was built in the 1950s.
Today, the center might be closing because it owes $60,000 on the loan which was taken out by Imam Husham Al-Husainy.
The imam said he decided to renovate the upper level of the center two years ago when he took out the loan from a lender.
"The economy was bad at the time, so a bank wouldn't give me the loan," Al-Husainy said. "Then earlier this year, the lender for the loan changed the agreement without much notice."
Last month, the community ralied to raise $50,000 to help pay the loan and give the center more time to raise the remaining money owned.
A trash container however was placed outside the center on the weekend of March 25 as a warning to Al-Husainy that eviction is looming.
The community set up a GoFundMe account for the center to continue to work toward its new $60,000 goal.
In 17 days, $5,795 has been raised to help the center, but is still short of the amount needed.
"The money raised will go towards paying off the remainder amount in order to finish paying off what the mosque still owes," the page description read. "The mosque will be under a new form of management to help it stay afloat for many many years to come."
The 10,000-square-foot center serves multiple purposes for the community including prayers, meetings, classes and gathering space for its members.
"This mosque has given shelter to those who need it, proper burial to those who have no family or are unable to afford it, food to the hungry, and so much more!" the GoFundMe page read.
To donate to the center go to www.gofundme.com/muv74n6s.
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