Islam in Andorra
95–100% | |
90–95% | |
50–55% | |
30–35% | |
10–20% | |
5–10% | |
4–5% | |
2–4% | |
1–2% | |
< 1% |
| Islam by country |
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 Islam portal |
Andorrais aChristianmajority country, withIslambeing a minority religion. According to the US Religious Freedom Report of 2006 there are about 2000 North Africans currently living inAndorra(out of a total population of 72,000) and they are the largest Muslim group in the country.[2]
Institutions
[edit]The Muslim community in Andorra has an Islamic Cultural Center which provides about 50 students withArabiclessons. The government and the Muslim community have not yet agreed on a system which would enable the schools to give such lessons.
There is no specifically builtmosquein Andorra and the government refuses to allocate land for such a project, saying there are not enough low-priced lands. In 2003 the local imam,Mohamed Raguig,petitioned BishopJoan Martí Alanisasking for either land from the Church in order to build a mosque or for space inside a church to be used as a mosque.[3]
History
[edit]At around 700, the Muslims conquered the area from theVisigoths,through theSegrevalley. The Muslims did not really stay in Andorra, rather using it as a shortcut to get toToulouse,Narbonne,CarcassonneandNîmes.
TheBattle of Poitiersand theBattle of Roncesvallesmarked the end of those expeditions to the other part of thePyrenees.
According toAntoni Filter i Rossellin his history book theManual Digest(1748), in 788, 5000 Andorrans, led byMarc Almugàvercame to Charlemagne's assistance in theVall de Carolin fighting the Muslims. After the battle, Charlemagne gave his protection to Andorra and declared them as a sovereign people.[4]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Muslim Population Growth in Europe Pew Research Center".2024-07-10. Archived fromthe originalon 2024-07-10.
- ^Andorra, International Religious Freedom Report 2006
- ^Muslims in Andorra ask for Bishop help to build mosqueArchived2007-09-30 at theWayback Machine,ArabNews,April 29, 2003
- ^Geography and History of the Principality of Andorra
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