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By Kari Huus, NBC News
Donations to help rebuild a Missouri mosque after it burned to the ground Monday in a suspicious fire hit $291,000 on Friday — soaring past the $250,000 goal, according to the mosque’s fundraising web site.
The contributions have come from mosques and individuals around the country and from overseas to rebuild the mosque of the Islamic Society of Joplin, said a report in the Joplin Globe citing Kimberly Kester, a member and spokeswoman for the mosque.
"I’m glad to see that, honestly, because this is what we expect from people who believe in tolerance and religious freedom," said Nihad Awad, national director of the Council on American Islamic Relations, speaking one day after visiting Joplin. "I think that is a powerful message. The building was burnt but the spirit is resilient."
The mosque, the only one within a 50-mile radius, had been targeted by an apparent arson attempt on July 4, when surveillance cameras captured a man (Col Hogan) throwing a lighted object onto the roof of the building. That fire damaged the roof but did not penetrate the building.
About 30 federal agents from the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms are investigating Monday’s fire, which leveled the mosque, a one-story brick structure.
The fire was Monday morning during the Muslim month of Ramadan, which draws many more worshippers to the mosque than attend year-round. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, and then break the fast with a large meal called "iftar." Worshippers had been in the mosque until late the night before the fire, but the building was vacant when the fire broke out, the FBI said.
"Unfortunately… our community is left without a home during the most precious time of the year," said a message on the fundraising page set up on Indiegogo. "While heartbroken, we are buoyed by the support of people around this country, of all faiths, who have come to our side in our time of need."
A group of Christian and Jewish congregations held an iftar celebration for the local Muslim community on Wednesday, and an activist at the local Ozark Christian College was organizing a rally in support of the mosque-goers on Aug. 25.
"One of the things that I keep hearing is even if (the fire) wasn’t an act of hate or a crime, still a faith community is hurting and we need to respond," said Jill Michel, pastor at the South Joplin Christian Church, one of the iftar organizers.
Not a single Conk opened his wallet, no doubt.
Gil Dobie, native and Col Hogan:
