Islam in Mexico and Central America

The arrival of Islam in Mexico and Central America is sometimes dated back to the days of slavery following the discovery of the Americas, and immigration records show clear evidence of the migration of Muslims to the region from the nineteenth century onwards. Over the past fifty years, Islam has begun to find support amongst the populations of Mexico and Central America and, as a consequence, there has been a growth in religious conversions to Islam during this period. Each country, like each individual, has its own story as to why Islam has captured the imagination of people new to the religion: for some, Islam has provided the opportunity for them to explore their spirituality further; for others, who have carried a sense of marginalisation, Islam has acted as a liberating force.