Latin American Muslims
Encyclopedia
Latin American Muslims are Muslims from countries from Latin America
.
and his first cross-Atlantic
voyage on August 3, 1492, when he left Spain
and eventually "discovered" the New World
. His date of departure was also the day on which the Catholic Monarchs
Isabella I of Castile
and Ferdinand II of Aragon
decreed that the Muslims (both Moors
and muladi
s) and Jews of Spain
either had to convert to Catholicism
, depart from the country, or face death for defiance of the Monarch.
Based on other estimates the Muslims in the area of Latin America are 6,000,000 mainly concentrated in Brazil and Argentina but also there are concentrations in Venezuela, Colombia and Paraguay. Most of these Latin American Muslims are from either Lebanese or Syrian origin.
.
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
.
History of the Muslims in Latin America
The history of the Muslims in Latin America dates back to Christopher ColumbusChristopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
and his first cross-Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
voyage on August 3, 1492, when he left Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and eventually "discovered" the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
. His date of departure was also the day on which the Catholic Monarchs
Catholic Monarchs
The Catholic Monarchs is the collective title used in history for Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon. They were both from the House of Trastámara and were second cousins, being both descended from John I of Castile; they were given a papal dispensation to deal with...
Isabella I of Castile
Isabella I of Castile
Isabella I was Queen of Castile and León. She and her husband Ferdinand II of Aragon brought stability to both kingdoms that became the basis for the unification of Spain. Later the two laid the foundations for the political unification of Spain under their grandson, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor...
and Ferdinand II of Aragon
Ferdinand II of Aragon
Ferdinand the Catholic was King of Aragon , Sicily , Naples , Valencia, Sardinia, and Navarre, Count of Barcelona, jure uxoris King of Castile and then regent of that country also from 1508 to his death, in the name of...
decreed that the Muslims (both Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
and muladi
Muladi
The Muladi were Muslims of ethnic Iberian descent or of mixed Arab, Berber and European origin, who lived in Al-Andalus during the Middle Ages. They were also called "Musalima" .-Etymology:...
s) and Jews of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
either had to convert to Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
, depart from the country, or face death for defiance of the Monarch.
Statistics
Quoted from "Muslims in Latin America" by Muhammad Yusuf Hallar - "According to statistics, the number of Muslims in Latin America is over four million, serving as an example 700,000 (seven hundred thousand) in Argentina and more than 1,500,000 (one point five million) in Brazil."Based on other estimates the Muslims in the area of Latin America are 6,000,000 mainly concentrated in Brazil and Argentina but also there are concentrations in Venezuela, Colombia and Paraguay. Most of these Latin American Muslims are from either Lebanese or Syrian origin.
Organizations
Many Muslim organizations exist in Latin America such as the Islamic Organization of Latin AmericaIslamic Organization of Latin America
The Islamic Organization of Latin America , also known as the Organización Islámica Para América Latina , headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is considered the most active organization in Latin America in promoting Islamic affiliated endeavors...
.
See also
- Islam in ArgentinaIslam in ArgentinaIslam in Argentina is represented by one of Latin America's largest Muslim minorities. Although accurate statistics on religion are not available the actual size of Argentina's Muslim community is estimated around 1% of the total population according to the International Religious Freedom Report...
- Islam in BoliviaIslam in BoliviaStatistics for Islam in Bolivia estimate a Muslim population of around two thousand, representing less than .1% of the total population.There are many Islamic organizations spread throughout the country, including Centro Islámico Boliviano in Santa Cruz, Centro Islámico Boliviano in Sucre led by...
- Islam in BrazilIslam in BrazilIslam in Brazil was first practiced by African slaves. The early Brazilian Muslims led the largest slave revolt in Brazil, which then had the largest slave population of the world. The next significant migration of Muslims was by Arabs from Syria and Lebanon...
- Islam in ChileIslam in ChileThe statistics for Islam in Chile estimate a total Muslim population of approximately 4,000, representing less than 0.1% of the population. There are a number of Islamic organizations in Chile, including the "Muslim Society of Chile and As-Salam Mosque" in Santiago, Chile, "Bilal Mosque" in...
- Islam in ColombiaIslam in ColombiaThe statistics for Islam in Colombia estimate a total Muslim population of 14,000 according to a Pew Research Center report. There are a number of Islamic organizations in Colombia, including Islamic centers in San Andrés, Bogotá, Guajira, Nariño, and Santa Marta. There are also primary and...
- Islam in EcuadorIslam in EcuadorThe statistics for Islam in Ecuador estimate a total Muslim population of about 275. The first Muslim settlers in Ecuador were primarily Arabs who immigrated from Lebanon, the Palestinian territories, Syria, and Egypt following the two World Wars and the destruction of the Ottoman Empire...
- Islam in HaitiIslam in HaitiThe estimated population of Haitian Muslims is about 3000, representing approximately 0.04 percent of the population, although local Muslims claim the actual number is larger, nearing 5000 due to many Muslims that supposedly aren't counted due to inaccessibility or unavailability.Islamic...
- Islam in PanamaIslam in PanamaIslam in Panama has a long and unique history. According to a 2009 Pew Research Center report, there are 24,000 Muslims in Panama who constitute 0.7 percent of the population.-Early history:...
- Islam in ParaguayIslam in ParaguayThe latest statistics for Islam in Paraguay estimate a total Muslim population of 507, representing 0.008 percent of the population. Most of the Muslims are descendants of immigrants from Syria, Lebanon and Palestine. The major Islamic organization in Paraguay is the Centro Benéfico Cultural...
- Islam in PeruIslam in PeruThe statistics for Islam in Peru estimate a total Muslim population of 5,000, largely based in the capital of Lima, Peru; a number which has remained static since 1980....
- Islam in UruguayIslam in UruguayThe statistics for Islam in Uruguay estimate a total Muslim population of 300 to 400, representing 0.01 percent of the population. There are two Islamic centers, both of them in Montevideo:1) Egyptian Cultural Islamic Center....
- Islam in VenezuelaIslam in VenezuelaThere are approximately 100,000 Muslims in Venezuela, 0.4 percent of the nation's population. Venezuela has a small but influential Muslim population, many of them Arabs of Lebanese, Palestinian, Syrian descent and Turkish....
- Islam in BelizeIslam in BelizeThe statistics for Islam in Belize estimate a total Muslim population of 2,794, representing 1 percent of the total population. The Muslim community is led by the Islamic Mission of Belize headquartered in Belize City.-Sources:...
- Islam in Costa RicaIslam in Costa RicaThe statistics for Islam in Costa Rica is around 500 families, or 0.01% of the population. There are a number of Islamic organizations in San José including the Islamic Association of Costa Rica led by Secretary General Dr. Abdul Fatah Sasa , and the Centro Cultural Musulmán de Costa Rica in...
- Islam in CubaIslam in CubaAccording to a 2009 Pew Research Center report, there are 9,000 Muslims in Cuba who constitute 0.1% of the population.At a certain point there were many Muslim students entering the nation of Cuba interested in studying at Cuba's prestigious schools. The amount of students was approximately...
- Islam in GuatemalaIslam in GuatemalaThe Muslim population of Guatemala is approximately 1,200. Of this population, 95% are Palestinian Arab immigrants. There is a mosque in the outskirts of Guatemala City called the Islamic Da'wah Mosque of Guatemala which is available for the five daily prayers and offers classes in Islamic...
- Islam in Dominican Republic
- Islam in El SalvadorIslam in El SalvadorThere is a small Muslim community in El Salvador, largely consisting of Salvadoran nationals and converts. However, the majority of the Arab population in the country are Christian mainly Lebanese and Palestinian....
- Islam in GuatemalaIslam in GuatemalaThe Muslim population of Guatemala is approximately 1,200. Of this population, 95% are Palestinian Arab immigrants. There is a mosque in the outskirts of Guatemala City called the Islamic Da'wah Mosque of Guatemala which is available for the five daily prayers and offers classes in Islamic...
- Islam in HondurasIslam in HondurasThe statistics for Islam in Honduras estimate a total Muslim population of 11,000 representing 0.1 percent of the population. Although there are no official statistics, it is estimated that between 100,000 and 200,000 of the country's seven million inhabitants are of Arab descent, and of these, the...
- Islam in MexicoIslam in MexicoThere is very little information about the origins of Islam in Mexico, but most sources claim it arrived with either Lebanese or Syrian immigrants and some other Middle Easterners like Egyptians, Iranians, and Turks. According to a World Values Survey conducted in 1996 and used by the Pew Forum on...
- Islam in NicaraguaIslam in NicaraguaAccording to 2007 statistics released by the U.S. Department of State concerning Islam in Nicaragua, there are approximately 1,200 to 1,500 Muslims, mostly Sunnis who are resident aliens or naturalized citizens from Palestine, Libya, and Iran or natural-born Nicaraguan citizens born to both of the...
- Islam in Puerto RicoIslam in Puerto RicoIslam in Puerto Rico: In 2007, there were over 5,000 Muslims residing in Puerto Rico, representing about 0.10% of the population. The early Muslim community largely consisted mainly of Palestinian immigrants who arrived between 1958 and 1962...