Islam in Eritrea

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Islam in Eritrea is well established and accounts for approximately half of the religious population. The vast majority of non-Muslims in Eritrea are Orthodox Christians, they follow the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church.

Islam has been practiced in Eritrea since the time of Muhammad, although large amounts of Eritreans converted to Islam while it was occupied by the Ottoman Empire and Egypt in the 19th century. All Eritrean Muslims practice Sunni Islam. Generally, the eastern and western lowlands are predominantly Muslim while the highlands are predominantly Christian.

The first mufti of Eritrea, Ibrahim Mukhtar, was not appointed until the Italian Colonial period. He was recommended by the Muslim leaders of Eritrea.

[edit] External links

• US State department report on religion in Eritrea