Islam in Paraguay
In today's world, Islam in Paraguay has become a topic of relevance and general interest for a wide spectrum of society. From politics to science, through culture and technology, Islam in Paraguay has impacted our daily lives in various ways. There are many perspectives from which Islam in Paraguay can be approached, and each of them offers a fascinating and constantly evolving panorama. In this article, we will explore some of the most important dimensions of Islam in Paraguay, analyzing its impact in different areas and its projection into the future.
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Islam in Paraguay (Islam en Paraguay, الإسلام في باراغواي ) is a minority religion. According to the latest statistics on Islam in Paraguay, the total number of Muslims is less than 1,000, representing 0.02% of the country's population (7.3 million people, as of 2021). According to other estimates, the number of Muslims in Paraguay is 35,000.[1]
History
Islam began to spread in Paraguay in the late 20th century with Arab immigrants. Islam is a minority religion in Paraguay, as over 95% of the population identify as Christian (89% Catholic and 8% Protestant).[2] Minority religions in Paraguay include Mormonism, Baha'i, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, etc.[3]
Most of Paraguay's Muslims are Arab immigrants from the Middle East (Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine) and their descendants. Beginning in the 1970s, Sunni Muslim Arabs began to migrate, especially to Ciudad del Este, which is located on the Brazilian border and has great opportunities for forestry, agriculture and commerce. Sunni Muslims outnumber Shiites who migrated earlier from southern Lebanon.[4]
The 1992 census recorded 872 Muslims in Paraguay, 486 of whom lived in the Alto Paraná, whose capital is Ciudad del Este.[citation needed]
According to the 2005 census, there were 507 Muslims in Paraguay, or 0.008% of the Paraguayan population.[5]
The capital Asunción is known as a "melting pot", thanks to the large number of immigrants of various nationalities (including those from Syria and Lebanon), and the Itapua Department also has Muslim communities.
The establishment of Islamic organizations in Paraguay has had a direct impact on the development of Islam in Paraguay. The local population, as a result of marriage with Arab immigrants, began to accept Islam.[5]
Islamic organizations
The largest Islamic organization in Paraguay is the Islamic Beneficial Cultural Center of Asunción (Centro Benéfico Cultural Islámico Asunción), founded in 1990, headed by Faozi Mohamed Omairi. The community is located in and around the capital of the country, Asunción, as well as in Ciudad del Este.[citation needed]
In 1988, a Shiite Muslim community, the Arab-Islamic Center of Paraguay (Centro Árabe Islámico Paraguayo), was founded in the Alto Paraná department, headed by Lebanese businessman Hussein Taijen.[relevant?]
See also
References
- ^ Sandra B. Ramírez Ortega (2021-10-15). "Descubriendo el mundo islámico en Paraguay - Articulos - ABC Color". Abc.com.py. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
- ^ The Latin American Socio-Religious Studies Program/ Programa Latinoamericano de Estudios Socioreligiosos (PROLADES) Archived 12 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine PROLADES Religion in America by country
- ^ "Paraguay religion". State.gov. 14 September 2007. Archived from the original on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ John Tofik Karam, (Un)covering Islam and Its Fifty-Year History in a South American Frontier Region Archived January 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine (2011), Florida International University.
- ^ a b gunawan, Diposting oleh hendra. "Islam di Paraguay (Bagian 1)" (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2025-04-06.
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