Islam in Barbados
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Statistics for Islam in Barbados estimate a Muslim population of 500 representing 0.20 percent of the population. Close to 90 percent of all Barbadians (also known colloquially as Bajan) are of African descent (Afro-Bajans), mostly descendants of the slave labourers on the sugar plantations. The remainder of the population includes groups of Europeans (Euro-Bajans), Asians, Bajan Hindus and Muslims, and an influential Middle Eastern (Arab-Bajans) group mainly of Syrian and Lebanese descent.
There are quite a few Islamic organizations in Bridgetown alone, including the Islamic Teaching Centre, Makki Masjid, Jumma Masjid and the Madina Masjid. The Barbados Muslim Association is an umbrella organization for Islamic Organizations on the island, which also advocates on behalf of Muslims at the national level. The Institute of Islamic Propagation and Thought supplies and distributes Islamic literature fee of charge to all Islamic organizations. The Medinah Foundation is a charitable organisation aimed at helping the poor and needy and building healthy community relations with others.
Al-Hudaa Muslim School offers primary education for boys and girls and secondary education for girls only. The Islamic Academy of Barbados was established in 1998 to promote Islam to Muslims and interested Non-Muslims. IAB publishes pamphlets and books on various contemporary issues facing the Muslims of today including a quarterly journal Sa'wtus Saahil.
The cultural centre of the Islamic community of Barbados is to the west of the city centre of Bridgetown. Close to an area known as Cheapside Market and Fontabelle, in Saint Michael. At a midpoint between more built up parts of Bridgetown and the Kensington Oval cricket statium a large mosque with four tall minarets can be observed in the area.
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