Islam in Ecuador

The statistics for Islam in Ecuador estimate a total Muslim population of about 275 . The first Muslim settlers in Ecuador were primarily Arabs who immigrated from Lebanon , the Palestinian territories , Syria , and Egypt following the two World Wars and the destruction of the Ottoman Empire . Their settlements were concentrated in Quito and in Guayaquil with smaller communities in Manabí , Los Ríos , and Esmeraldas provinces. Arab Christians and Muslims created a non-religious ethnic organisation called Lecla in the 1940s and The Arab Club in the 1980s. By the mid 1990s indigenous Ecuadorians began converting to Islam , and together with the Arab community, they rented an apartment to be used for Friday prayers. Later the Egyptian Embassy provided a private apartment for the same purpose. The Centro Islámico del Ecuador, founded on October 15, 1994, was the first Muslim religious organization recognized by the government. Its current leader is Juan 'Yahya' Suquillo, a convert and former military officer. The religious activities, as well as social, cultural and educational activities are conducted according to Sunni Islam and the centre receives no financial support from any foreign country. The Islamic Center also translates and publishes literature in Spanish on a variety of Islamic topics. The Centro Islámico del Ecuador sends representatives annually to the Latin Muslims Leaders gathering that usually takes place in Argentina . In 2004 the Centro Islámico Al Hijra was founded in Guayaquil -Ecuador's largest city and economic hub- and recognised by the government as a religious organisation. Its current leader is Juan 'Abdullah' Saud who is a convert to Islam. v t e v t e

The statistics for Islam in Ecuador estimate a total Muslim population of about 350. The first Muslim settlers in Ecuador were primarily Arabs who immigrated from Lebanon , Palestine , Syria , and Egypt following the two World Wars and the destruction of the Ottoman Empire . Their settlements were concentrated in Quito and in Guayaquil with smaller communities in Manabí , Los Ríos , and Esmeraldas provinces. Arab Christians and Muslims created a non-religious ethnic organisation called Lecla in the 1940s and The Arab Club in the 1980s. By the mid 1990s muslim Ecuadorian citizens and Arab muslims rented an apartment located in Avenue Los Shyris and Eloy Alfaro {where it functions till today} to be used for Friday prayers. Later the Egyptian Embassy provided a private apartment for the same purpose. The Centro Islámico del Ecuador, founded on October 15, 1994, was the first Muslim religious organization recognized by the government. However it is not the first organization that opened the doors in this city. The mosque under the named Khaled ibn al Walid, was founded in the year 1991, having only one private apartment where to conduct the religious rituals. The religious activities, as well as social, cultural and educational activities are conducted according to Sunni Islam. However, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community also exists in the country. The Khaled ibn al Walid mosque nowadays is run by Sheikh Mohamed Mamdouh, and had opened it doors for all Muslims residing in Quito. In Guayaquil, the Centro Islamico Al Hijra was established since 2004 by Juan Saud from Ecuador, Ali Said from Pakistan and Mazhar Farooq from India.

The Pew Research Center estimates that Ecuador has a Muslim population of about 2000, representing 0.011 % out of total population of 16,965,000 inhabitants. The first Muslim settlers in Ecuador were primarily Arabs who emigrated from the Middle East during World War I and thereafter from former territories of the Ottoman Empire . They settled mostly in Quito , Ambato and Guayaquil with smaller communities in Manabí , Los Ríos , and Esmeraldas provinces. Levantine Christians and Muslims created a secular ethnic organisation called Lecla in the 1940s and The Arab Club in the 1980s. By the mid 1990s, naturalized citizens and native Muslims of Arab extraction were using a private apartment located in Avenue Los Shyris and Eloy Alfaro as a communal prayer venue, especially on Fridays. At a later day the Egyptian Embassy provided another private apartment for the same purposes. The Centro Islámico del Ecuador , founded on October 15, 1994, was the first Muslim religious organization recognized by the government. However, it was not the first organization to open its doors in this city. A mosque under the name Khaled ibn al-Walid was founded in the year 1991; it conducted its religious rituals in a private apartment. Religious activities as well as social, cultural and educational activities are conducted according to Sunni Islam. The Khaled ibn al Walid mosque nowadays is run by Sheikh Mohamed Mamdouh, and had opened it doors for all Muslims domiciled in Quito. In Guayaquil, the Centro Islamico Al Hijra was established in 2004 by Juan Saud from Ecuador, Ali Said from Pakistan , and Mazhar Farooq from India . v t e v t e

Islam is a minority religion in Ecuador. The Pew Research Center estimates that Ecuador has a Muslim population of about 2,000, representing 0.1% out of the total population of 16,965,000 inhabitants. "Young and Muslim in Ecuador | Samia Rahman" . the Guardian .