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The latest statistics for Islam in Cuba claim a population of 907 Muslims representing 0.008 percent of the population. Outside sources claim this number may be artificially low given the Cuban governments Socialist attitudes towards religion. In 2001 Sheikh Muhammad bin Nassir Al-Aboudy, the Assistant Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL) travelled to Cuba to obtain permission from the Cuban authorities to establish an Islamic organization that would support Cuba’s Muslim community. Among the other aims of the proposed organization would be constructing mosques and the dissemination of Islamic culture among the Muslims.

Cuba’s Muslims usually pray in their homes since there is no mosque in Havana and the state does not allow the construction of mosques. The only prayers performed in public are the Friday Prayers that are conducted in a place known as Casa de los Árabes ("The Arab House") in old Havana. The Arab House belonged to a wealthy Arab immigrant who lived in Cuba during the 1940s, and it was built on Andalusian architectural designs. The House encompasses an Arabic museum, an Arabic restaurant, and the place is used by Muslim diplomats for Friday Prayers. Qatar donated US$ 40,000 for the remodeling of the House, but it is only opened for Friday Prayers.

The MWL official estimated that in the town of Pilaya de Rosario, 40 percent of the population is Muslim. Among the international Islamic organizations doing charitable work among Cuba’s Muslims is the Qatari Charitable Society.

• Islamicnews.org

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