Islam in Seychelles
{{Short description|Spread of Islam in Seychelles}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Update|date=March 2025}}File:A Mosque in Mahe.jpg
{{Islam by country}}
Islam in the Indian Ocean was established by Muslim sea merchants well before the European discovery of Seychelles.{{cite web|title=Exploring Islam|url=http://www.nation.sc/index.php?art=6953|publisher=www.nation.sc|access-date=2 March 2013|archive-date=5 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705085918/http://www.nation.sc/index.php?art=6953|url-status=dead}} However, unlike in other island countries such as the Comoros or the Maldives, there were no permanent inhabitants in Seychelles until the French settlement in 1770. Today, the Muslim population of the islands is reported to be approximately 1.1%, roughly 900 people.{{cite web|title=Seychelles Population|url=http://www.historycentral.com/nationbynation/Seychelles/Population.html|publisher=www.historycentral.com|access-date=2 March 2013}} Many of its island neighbours in the southern Indian Ocean, including the Comoros, Maldives, and Zanzibar, have a much larger Muslim influence because of their settlement by Muslims before European colonization. Mauritius also has a much higher Muslim population due to the importation of labour from British India on a scale not seen in Seychelles. The government of Seychelles allows 15 minutes of religious broadcasting every Friday for the Muslim community.
Background
While many Islamic mosques have been built around the country, approximately 1.6 percent of Seychelles is Muslim. One of the prominent islands with many of the Muslims and mosques is the island of Mahe.{{Cite news |title=Countering the 'negative branding' of Islam - Muslims in Seychelles seek local dialogue|url=http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/2181/Countering+the+negative+branding+of+Islam+-+Muslims+in+Seychelles+seek+local+dialogue|website=Seychelles News Agency |access-date=2020-06-09}}
Demographics
{{Historical populations
|type =
|footnote =
|1994 | 506
|2002 | 866
|2010 | 1,459
}}
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Percent ! Increase |
|---|
| 1994
| 0.8% | - |
| 2002
| 1.1% | style="background: #00A300"| 0.3% |
| 2011
| 1.6% | style="background: #00A300" | 0.5% |
According to the 2010 Census, there were 1,459 Muslims in the Seychelles constituting 1.6 % of the population of Seychelles.{{cite web|url=http://www.nsb.gov.sc/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Population_and_Housing_Census_2010_Report.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-11-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514112130/http://www.nsb.gov.sc/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Population_and_Housing_Census_2010_Report.pdf |archive-date=2014-05-14 }} This is an increase of 593 from the 2002 census, which reported 866 Muslims constituting 1.1 % of the population. In 1994, there were 506 Muslims constituting 0.7 % of the country's population.{{cite web |title=Housing and Population Census 2002|url=https://www.nbs.gov.sc/downloads/population-housing-census-2002/download|format=PDF|access-date=14 August 2020}}
Islamic Society of Seychelles and fasting
An Islamic Society of Seychelles (current president: Ibrahim Afif) attempted to start their own program named Explore Islam. However, the program was closed down unexpectedly.
On 5 June 2019, the Islamic community held an Eid-ul-Fitr celebration at Stad Popiler (which is located in the capital, Victoria).{{Cite news |date=2019-06-05|title=Month of fasting over, Islamic community in Seychelles celebrates Eid, reflects on peace, love|url=https://sbc.sc/news/month-of-fasting-over-islamic-community-in-seychelles-celebrates-eid-reflects-on-peace-love/ |website=SBC |language=en-US }}{{Citation needed|reason=It is impossible for the attendance of 95,000 people in a country where Muslims form a mere 1.6 percent. The overall population of Seychelles itself is approximately 100,000. More reliable examples are needed.|date=July 2020}}
Mosques
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2005/51493.htm US Government report in Religious Freedom in Seychelles]
{{Africa in topic|Islam in}}
Category:Religion in Seychelles
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