By Sudarsan RaghavanWashington PostJune 5, 2006 Latinas Balance Catholic Upbringing, Adoption of Islam Every morning, Jackie Avelar wakes up to a predicament. On one side of her bed is a clock that sounds the Islamic call to prayer five times a day. On the other side is a statue of Mary. As a Muslim, she […]

By Mailyn SalabarriaGreeley TribuneJuly 8, 2006 Hugo Hernández put aside the saints, the host and the confessions. Nineteen years of Catholic religious traditions were left behind when he decided to convert to Islam. A teacher and political science graduate, Hernández, 26, came to a turning point in his life during his freshman year of college […]

By Jeannette Rivera-LylesOrlando SentinelAugust 19, 2006 Hispanic converts to Islam give up roasted pork and Christmas but say they can combine their culture and faith. Catherine Garcia enters the mosque barefoot and finds a spot on the floor. She kneels and leans forward. Palms, nose and forehead touch the ground. Her lips move, almost imperceptibly, […]

By Amel S. AbdullahSouthern California InFocusFebruary 2006 Reverts to Islam often share a set of challenges as they work to gain the acceptance of family, friends, and co-workers, integrate Islam into their daily lives, and find their niche within the Muslim community. For Latinos who embrace Islam, it is usually no different. Yet, Latino Muslims […]

By Amy GreenThe Christian Science MonitorSeptember 28, 2006 Marriage, post-9/11 curiosity, and a shared interest in issues such as immigration are key reasons. ORLANDO, FLA. – With her hijab and dark complexion, Catherine Garcia doesn’t look like an Orlando native or a Disney tourist. When people ask where she’s from, often they are surprised that […]

By Abe LevySan Antonio Express-NewsSeptember 8, 2006 Jesus Rogelio Villarreal used to curse Muslims and blame Islam for inspiring the 9-11 terrorists. He hoped to kill the Taliban overseas. He’s now a convert to Islam and among the first to enter local mosques for weekly prayers and the last to leave. He marvels today at […]

By Tiffany DixonThe Daily Tar HeelOctober 12, 2006 A unique piece of the nation’s melting pot – Latinos who practice Islam – will be discussed at 6:15 p.m. today in the Carmichael Ballroom. Guest speaker Umar Yasin Diego Guadalupe, who is Latino and Muslim, will talk about the historical and current experiences of the Latino […]

By Mark PetixWhittier Daily NewsOctober 8, 2006 CHINO – When the sun finally sets and the fast of Ramadan ends for the day, Luqman Malik joins the faithful at the Baitul Hameed Mosque for a feast of chicken, rice, potatoes. And Mexican food. Islam is a tapestry, Imam Shamshad A. Nasir says, a religion that […]

By Rachel MartinNational Public Radio (NPR)September 24, 2006 The Catholic Church has been grappling with an exodus of Latin Americans over the past few decades. A small yet growing segment of the Hispanic population is leaving Christianity altogether and converting to Islam — and most of them are women. LIANE HANSEN, host: This is WEEKEND […]

By Cortney FieldingPasadena Star-NewsOctober 10, 2006 ARCADIA – Growing up a Catholic in Mexico during the 1960s and ’70s, Marta Galedary knew nothing about Islam. Even while attending university in Mexico City, befriending a Muslim was as unlikely as spotting a unicorn. “I had no idea of the word Islam or Muslim in my life,” […]