Islam Growing in Haiti

World Press - World Press

Written by Yaman Shalabi

Saturday, 16 January 2010 01:44

Islam is growing rapidly in Haiti, with about 5000 Muslims living in the earthquake devastated nation among a population of 8 million – most practicing Christianity and Voodoo.

According to a June 13, 2002 Reuters article about Islam in Haiti, converts cite the religion's commitment to charity and social justice as some key values that attracted them. Haitian society is rife with poverty and an unstable economic and political climate.

Muslims in Haiti believe Islam is the key “to addressing many of Haiti’s needs, including social injustice, literacy and a sense of community,” according to Algerian Economist, Yacine Khelladi, quoted in the Reuters report. “It even regulates business, land disputes, banking, and other things.”

There are at least two masajid in Port-au-Prince, noted the Reuters report.