WASHINGTON DC – A leading American Muslim umbrella group is calling for a day of prayer for Syrian city of Aleppo on Friday. December 16, urging the international community to intervene immediately to halt “reported massacres” in the besieged city.

The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) “urges Friday to be made a day for prayer for the residents of Aleppo and urges all Friday Sermons to be dedicated to bring about awareness of the situation in Aleppo,” the group said in a statement sent to AboutIslam.net.

The group also called on the US State Department to use all its resources to halt human rights violations in the city, ensure safe civilian evacuation, protect residents and allow relief aid in the violence-torn Syrian city.

The besieged Syrian city of Aleppo has been under stiff attacks by Syrian government forces and their allied militias, sparking wide-scale Arab and international outrage.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said Tuesday night that his agency had credible reports that scores of civilians in rebel-held neighborhoods had been killed by pro-government forces, with pro-Assad forces reportedly entering homes to carry out summary executions.

Dozens of dead bodies reportedly littered the streets of east Aleppo neighborhoods, with residents unable to retrieve them.

On the humanitarian side, ICNA urged Muslims to donate to help Syrian refugees in the Middle East.

“Consider donating for Helping Hand for Relief and Development’s efforts to help Syrian refugees in the middle East: https://hhrd.org/donate?proid=122,” the group said.

Moreover, it called on American Muslims to call their congressional representatives to “demand immediate action to provide relief and protection to the residents of Aleppo.”