Islam in the Netherlands Antilles
Islam by country |
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Islam is a minority religion in the Netherlands Antilles. There are about 2,500 Muslims in the Islands,[1] 1000 of which are in the Caribbean Netherlands,[2][3] or 0.31% of the population. Most Muslims are emigrants from Lebanon, Syria and Suriname.[4]
History
[edit]Muslims began to reach the islands during colonial times as workers (mainly as slaves and indentured labourers, from Sub-Saharan African countries then from the British India (Indian subcontinent). Then there was a wave of Muslims coming from Lebanon, Syria and Iraq as well as some indigenous people who converted to Islam.[1] In 1982 there were about 2000 Muslims.
Islamic centers
[edit]The majority of the Islam community is located on Curaçao where is the only mosque:[4] Omar bin Al-Khattab Mosque, with its imam, Sheikh Yakubu Mohammed.[3] There are other Islamic centers, including:
- Bonaire Islamic Center, Kaya Hanchi Amboina, Bonaire
- Curaçao Islamic Center, Weg Naar Welgelegen # 6, Island of Curaçao, Willemstad
- Sint Maarten Islamic Center, Puma Road 26, Philipsburg
- Muslim Gemeente Curaçao, Weg Naar Welgelegen 6, Curaçao, Willemstad
- Muslim Student Association, University Of Sint Eustatius School Of Medicine, Oranjestad, ST EUSTATIUS
- Sint Eustatius Islamic Foundation, Oranjestad, Sint Eustatius[3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "الأقلية المسلمة في منطقة البحر الكاريبي" (in Arabic). 23 June 2014. Archived from the original on 12 May 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
- ^ Muslim Situation in the Caribbean
- ^ a b c ISLAM and MUSLIMS IN NETHERLANDS ANTILLES
- ^ a b Religion in Netherlands Antilles