Islam in Latin America
by Antonio Fuentes & Robert L.
This is the first in a series of articles we are running about Islam and Hispanics.
You might not know it be Mexico has the largest Muslim population in Latin America and it is growing not only in Mexico but in Central America, Brazil, Argentina, and other Latin American nations. Most sources agree that Islam arrived in Mexico via immigrants from Turkey, Syria, Egypt, and Iran. One big Muslim organization in Mexico is the Centro Cultural Islamico de Mexico (CCIM) which is English means the “Islamic Cultural Center of Mexico.” This is a Sunni Muslim organization headed by Omar Weston who is a British born Mexican convert to Islam. CCIM has been active in several big cities across Mexico especially in the North and Central parts of the country. There is also the Nur Ashki Jerrahi Sufi Order in Mexico City which is often at odds with mainstream Islam as it is headed by two women Imams (prayer leaders). Another Muslim organization in Mexico is the Centro Salafi de Mexico which is a small Salafi Muslim organization headed by Muhammad Abdullah Ruiz a former deputy of Weston’s. In Mexico City there is also the Centro Educativo de la Comunidad Musulmana en Mexico (the Muslim Community Education Center) which is administrated by Muslims from Egypt and the Middle East and which serves as an Islamic education center inside Mexico.
In the Mexican State of Chiapas there is the Spanish Murabitun Community known as the Comunidad Islamica en Espana. This organization is based in Granada, Spain and has a growing influence in Chiapas, Mexico. The Murabitun movement has a presence in at least 20 countries. They advocate allegiance to an Amir (prince) and reintroduction of Islamic currency known as the Gold Dinar and Silver Dirham among other things. The current Amir is Muhammad Nafia (formerly Aureliano Perez) who was a Spanish missionary. He arrived in the Mexican State of Chiapas not long after the Zapatista uprising and established a commune in San Cristobal. He has succeeded in converting many Maya and Tzotzils to Islam. There is also a Madrasa (Islamic School) in San Cristobal where children learn Arabic and pray five times per day. Most Mayan converts today have left the Murabitun movement and now are associated with the CCIM and follow the orthodox Sunni form of Islam. They have built the Al Kausar Mosque in San Cristobal de las Casas.
Southern Mexico has long been a bastion of Catholicism but in recent times Islam has gained a foothold and the Mexican government of Vincente Fox has expressed concern about a religious or cultural clash between the two faiths. Chiapas is Mexico’s poorest State and the Mayan and other indigenous people are seen as second class people. There is much racism in Chiapas. Natives have to move onto the street if a light skinned person approaches them still today! One of the reasons Islam is growing in Chiapas is because race plays no role in Islam. A Muslim is a brother or sister no matter what their skin color. Mexican converts to Islam usually take Arabic names and add them to their Spanish surnames. Muslim women in headscarves have become a common sight in San Cristobal. Continue Reading