Islam is a minority religion in Ecuador.[1] ThePew Research Center estimates thatEcuador has aMuslim population of about 2,000, representing 0.1% out of the total population of 16,965,000 inhabitants.[2]
The first Muslim settlers inEcuador were primarilyArabs who emigrated from the Middle East during World War I and thereafter from former territories of theOttoman Empire. They settled mostly inQuito,Ambato andGuayaquil with smaller communities inManabí,Los Ríos, andEsmeraldas provinces.Levantine Christians and Muslims created a secular ethnic organization calledLecla in the 1940s andThe 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. TheCentro 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 nameKhalid 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 toSunni Islam. The Khaled ibn al Walid mosque nowadays is run by Sheikh Mohamed Mamdouh and had opened its doors to all Muslims domiciled in Quito. Recently, Spier (2022) presented a study outlining the manifestations of Islamophobia in Quito, Ecuador.[3]
In the 1940s, Christians and Muslims of theLevant founded a secular ethnic organization calledLukla, which was renamed the Arab Club in the 1980s.
TheIslamic Center of Ecuador (Centro Islâmico del Ecuador), founded on October 15, 1994, was thefirst Muslim religious organization recognized by the government. The organization is headed by former military officer Juan 'Yahya' Suquillo.
TheIslamic Community of Ecuador (Comunidad Islamica del Ecuador) or Al-Salam Mosque was founded in the country's capitalQuito..[4]
In 2004, theCentro Islamico Al Hijra was founded inGuayaquil by Juan Said from Ecuador, Ali Said from Pakistan, and Mazhar Farooq from India.[5] The Al-Hijra Islamic Center is recognized by the state, has 85 regular Muslims, and headed by Juan 'Abdullah' Saud, an Ecuadorian who convert to Islam.[6]
Dr. Yahya Suquillo – Dr. Suquillo was born and raised in Quito, Ecuador. He received a master's degree in Islamic Sciences from the University of Madinah in Saudi Arabia. He is the founder and religious director of El Centro Islámico de Quito. He is also the General Secretary for the Interfaith Council CONALIR fighting for religious rights and anti-discrimination. His books in Spanish have been popular and Suquillo is regarded as a bridge and reference for Latino Muslim leaders and scholars. Dr. Suquillo is listed as one of the top 500 Most Influential Muslims in the World.[citation needed]n
