Islam in Suriname
According to the most recent census (2004), the Muslim population of Suriname is 66,307, representing about 13.5 percent of the country's total population,[1] giving the country the highest percentages of Muslims on the American continent.
Muslims first came to Suriname as slaves from West Africa, however they converted to Christianity over time, so they did not contribute to the current population in any significant way. The next group of Muslims to come to the country consisted of indentured laborers from South Asia and Indonesia, from whom today most Muslims in Suriname are descended.
Islam in Suriname was strongly influenced by Indonesia and especially Pakistan. Apart from descent, most Surinamese Muslims also share the same culture and speak the same language. Suriname has a number of Afghan Muslims and their native-born children.[2]
Suriname is the only American country which is a member state of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation since 1996.[3]
Further reading
- Bal, Ellen; Kathinka Sinha-Kerkhoff (August 2005). "Muslims in Surinam and the Netherlands, and the divided homeland". Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs 25 (2): 193–217. doi:10.1080/13602000500350637.
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