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| Total population | |
|---|---|
| c. 1,600-50,000 (0.02%)[1][2] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| AcrossLaos, particularly in urban areas | |
| Religions | |
| PredominantlySunni | |
| Languages | |
|
Laos is aBuddhist-majority nation with theofficially recognisedMuslim population approximately constituting 1% of the total population as of 2008 census.[1][4][2] The majority of Laotian Muslims areSunni. Laotian Muslims can be found in the capital,Vientiane, which has two mosques, as well as other urban areas such asSavannakhet andOudomxay; the latter of which had a mosque constructed there in June 2016.[5] Laotian Muslims are an ethnically diverse group, mainly consisting ofethnic Lao,Chin Haw,[6][7]Chams,Tamils, andPashtuns, with interracial marriages being increasingly popular.[8] They are generally engaged in trade, agriculture, cosmetics, clothing and business (butcher shops and restaurants) though some have attained official roles with the government.[9]
The ethnic diversity of Laotian Muslims is associated with the history of how Islam spread into the region. Originally from southern China in places such asYunnan, a community known as the Chin Haw worked as merchants throughoutMyanmar,Thailand, southwest China, and Laos.[10] They were known to have a presence in Laos as far south asLuang Prabang and even beyond, though they mainly reside in northern Laos.[11][12]
The earliest South Asian Muslims to come to Laos are believed to have been theTamil Muslims ofPondicherry who arrived to the country viaHo Chi Minh City during theFrench colonial period.[11] Predominantly belonging to theLabbay community, these Tamils found employment as labourers and guards in theLaotian capital. DuringWorld War I, theBritish Army employed and stationed ethnic Pashtuns to Southeast Asia. South Asian Muslims are mainly found in Vientiane today.[11] The small community of Chams first came to Laos fromCambodia to escape persecution from theKhmer Rouge regime in the late 20th-century.[13] The Chams established theAzahar Mosque, which is popularly known by locals as Masjid Cambodia.[11]
Formerly considered the largest Muslim community in Laos, the Chin Haw community have been sharply declining as many have begun to migrate overseas. Boasting a population of over 7000 in the mid-1960s, theLaotian Civil War and thepolitical developments of the 1970s have driven much of the Chin Haw community to emigrate from Laos.[1] Though majority of the Muslim population trace their origins to other countries, there is a small community of indigenous Lao, who are mostlyconverts to Islam. Many of these converts intermarry with the other dominant Muslim communities.[1] Nowadays, members of theTablighi Jamaat frequent Laos fromThailand to spread their teachings.
TheGovernment of Laos officially recognisesIslam in its1991 constitution. The country allows its Muslim citizens to freely practice their religion. The Muslim community has, on a number of occasions, invited administrators from theLao Front for National Construction and theVientiane Prefecture to their celebratory festivals. As of 2001, theLao People's Democratic Republic government began to severely restrict and control the practice of Islam (and other religions) in the country.[1] Laotian Muslims have represented the country in numerous international events such as inIndonesia, at the 2006 Interfaith Conferences on Religion, and in the early 2008 Cambodia conference.[2]
In Vientiane, theMuslim Association is seated in the two-storiedVientiane Jamia Mosque. Its president is Haji Muhammad Rafiq Sofi Sengsone. The mosque has a strong Tamil and Pashtun community and was established in 1970 by Lao Muslims.[1] Maulvi Qamruddin was a notable Tamil imam at the mosque and the mosque has also had aBangladeshiimam. There is another mosque known as theAzahar Mosque not too far from there which was established by the Cham community in 1986, and became popularly known as Masjid Cambodia (due to their origin). It also hosts amaktab. A Muslim prayer room can also be found in theWattay International Airport, the country's main international gateway and also located in the capital. In theLuang Prabang Province, there is a mosque, cemetery as well as an Indian halal restaurant called Nisha.[14] Some Laotian Muslims have gone off to study at theInternational Islamic University Malaysia.[1]
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