Author: Obaidullah Noorzahi
The Influence of Islam in America (Part 6)
Mexico
The Federal Republic of Mexico covers an area of 1,958,201 square kilometers and is located south of the United States. It straddles the Tropic of Cancer between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean.
Mexico consists of 31 states and one federal district, with its capital in Mexico City. The country has a population of approximately 85 million, the majority of whom are of mixed Indigenous and European descent. About 90% of the population adheres to Catholicism, while the remaining minority consists of Protestants and Muslims.
The author of the book Arabs in America writes: “In 1539, Fray Marcos de Niza, guided by a Moroccan Muslim named Esteban, managed to explore Arizona and Mexico.” [1]
Approximately 20,000 Muslims reside in Mexico, most of whom are of Syrian origin. However, they have yet to organize as a cohesive community, and unfortunately, some have converted to Catholicism.
Colombia
Next, we explore the influence of Islam in Colombia. Colombia is located in the northwestern part of South America, bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It shares borders with Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador. The country features a semi-mountainous landscape, with the equator passing through its southern regions. While some areas have a hot and humid climate, others experience milder weather.
Colombia is divided into 22 administrative regions, one federal district, and eight special zones governed by appointed officials. It is a republic with its capital in Bogotá. The country has a population of over 30 million, comprised of White, Indigenous, and mixed-race (Afro-Indigenous) people. Approximately 95% of Colombians follow Catholicism, while the remaining population includes Protestants and Muslims. [2]
In the late 15th and early 16th centuries, much of Colombia, along with Panama, Venezuela, and Ecuador, was colonized by Spain under the name “New Granada.” During this period, a significant number of Spanish Muslims, facing severe persecution, migrated to Colombia. However, many were either tortured, executed, or forced to convert to Christianity, resulting in a significant erosion of their Islamic heritage. Nevertheless, some Syrian and Lebanese migrants later settled in the region, preserving aspects of their Islamic identity. In recent years, Palestinian Muslim migrants have joined them.
In 1960, the Muslim population in Colombia was around 1,000. Today, the number has grown to approximately 30,000. About 25% of them reside in Bogotá, while others are spread across cities such as San Andrés, Barranquilla, Cali, and Maicao. While the Muslim community in the capital is relatively organized under a religious institution, those in other areas lack a strong organizational structure.
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago are part of the Caribbean region, which consists of numerous islands stretching from Florida to Venezuela. Many of these islands are formed from coral reefs, while some, such as Martinique and Guadeloupe, have volcanic origins. [3]
Located north of Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago is part of the Lesser Antilles in Central America. Covering 5,128 square kilometers, the two islands together form an independent nation. Trinidad is the largest island in the Windward Islands group, while its smaller neighbor, Tobago, was a monarchy until 1976, when it transitioned into a republic.
The majority of the population in Trinidad and Tobago are Catholics, while the rest follow Protestantism, Hinduism, or Islam. The country has a population of 1,306,000, with an annual growth rate of 2.5% and a population density of 254.9 per square kilometer. About 51% of the population resides in urban areas, with an average household size of 4.2 people. The ethnic composition is approximately 43% Black, 36% Indian, and the remainder being mixed or White.
Trinidad and Tobago are one of the few regions in the Western Hemisphere where Islam has a significant presence. The islands were discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1498 and later annexed by Spain. However, in the late 18th century, Spain ceded them to Britain, which ruled the territory from 1797 until August 31, 1962, when it gained independence. Economically, Trinidad and Tobago is relatively stable, with a balanced trade relationship between exports and imports. The country produces 600,000 tons of asphalt and 250,000 tons of sugar annually. The capital, Port of Spain, is primarily built with wooden structures.
According to a 1958 report by the American Muslim James Clell, the Muslim population in the region, including Guyana, was estimated at 75,000. In 1964, a report by Motamar Al-Alami in Pakistan recorded 52,260 Muslims in Trinidad and the West Indies. Another report, published in the Beirut newspaper Al-Shihab in 1960, stated that out of the country’s 550,000 inhabitants, 350,000 were Muslims.
In 1971, the Muslim population in Trinidad and Tobago was recorded at 115,000, increasing to 180,000 by 1982. Today, approximately 200,000 Muslims reside in the country, making up about 20% of the total population. The majority of them are of Black or Indian descent.
The first Muslims in Trinidad and Tobago were African slaves brought by European colonizers. Later, during British rule, a significant number of Indian laborers were transported to work on sugar plantations—many of whom were Muslim. In 1935, the Anjuman Sunnat-ul-Jamaat Association (ASJA) was established to organize and represent the Muslim community, overseeing mosques and Islamic schools. Compared to other parts of the Americas, Muslims in Trinidad and Tobago enjoy greater social and political influence. By 1982, Muslim representation included three cabinet ministers and around 20% of parliament members. The Muslim community also runs radio programs and engages in Islamic education and outreach.
Islamic revivalism, particularly among Black Trinidadians, has been on the rise.
In 1990, the group Jamaat al-Muslimeen staged a coup against the central government. This militant organization, active for a decade, claimed that it overthrew the government due to rampant corruption. The group took the Prime Minister and several cabinet members hostage, strapping them with explosives, and seized control of state radio and television stations. The movement gained support from Black residents in impoverished areas, and some military personnel even defected to join Imam Yasin Abu Bakr, the Muslim leader behind the uprising. [4]
Other Caribbean and West Indian Nations
Muslim minorities also reside in various other Caribbean and West Indian countries.
Continues…
References:
[1] Mohammad Ali Rouhani Gorgani, Islam in America and Canada, p. 76, Mehrgan Publications.
[2] The Agricultural Development of Colombia, Washington, D.C.
[3] John Grassi, Terror in Latin America, translated by Mohammad Ali Aghaei Pour and Mohammad Ali Safarian, pp. 240-241, Tehran, Kharazmi.
[4] John Grassi, Terror in Latin America, p. 245.
