(Sacramento, CA, 2/13/17) - The Sacramento Valley office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SV), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, tonight welcomed an announcement from a Sacramento area mosque, SALAM Center, that starting Tuesday, February 14th, it would be opening its doors as an evacuation center for Northern California residents who are in need of shelter during the threat of the Oroville Dam erosion.

The mosque has the capacity to provide 24-hour shelter for up to 100 individuals and will be providing breakfast and dinner for those affected by the evacuation orders. Several mosques in the region, including Masjid Annur (the largest mosque in the region), and Muslim Community of Folsom, are assisting SALAM Center in providing resources and volunteers to accommodate the evacuees.

In a statement, SALAM Center Chairperson Waseem Bawa said:

"The Sacramento Muslim community and SALAM Center welcome our neighbors seeking refuge during this emergency evacuation period. Our doors are open and we are ready to assist those who need immediate shelter."

SALAM is located at 4545 College Oak Dr., Sacramento, CA, 95841. Evacuees can contact the Office Manager at 916-979-1933.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.