From the Mexican Press
Indigenas de Ala... en el corazon de Chiapas
Milenio - 27th December, 2006 by Santiago Fourcade
The New Hope settlement follows the Sufi teachings brought by Spanish Sufis. From childhood the villagers learn a system based on self-sufficiency.
“You arrive punctually, it has just struck nine, the hour of God, although for you it is already ten on the Fox timetable", amiable Javier Lake notes the difference between his people and the ex- Mexican President. Hajj Suleiman, as he is also known, is forty one years old and a member of the Islamic Community of Mexico and a figure in a religious phenomenon of the continent, he is one of the indigenous Muslims of Chiapas.
Their history began decades ago, when dozens of Presbyterian families who were violently expelled from San Juan Chamula settled on the outskirts of San Cristobal. There they created the New Hope settlement as a symbol of the dispute with the traditional Catholic ‘indigenismo’. Years later an amazing change occurred.
Today, with Allah as their God, more than 300 Tzotzils and Tzeltals have embraced Islam in a region that is traditionally dominated by iron-fisted ecclesiastical orders.
It is not difficult to discover the evidence of this revolution, says Javier as he guides me through the streets of the neighbourhood where a group of Spanish Muslims disembarked 12 years ago, arriving with a dream ‘in their luggage’
“Islam is not just a religion to us,” explains Suleiman, "It is essential to develop an integrated project. It is a life style and we want to inculcate a return to the roots, where usury and capitalism have no place”.
"We place our trust in Allah. He guides us on this path towards the purest principles taught by the Prophet. We came years ago with an aim that was sustained by the vision of our Emir Nafia, and now we can say that it is yielding its fruits ". The words of Suleiman allude to their leader, Eureliano Perez Iruela, a Cordoban of the Sufi school who arrived in the early nineties to organize the future Islamic Community of Mexico.
Many have accused the Chiapa Muslims of being dangerous and sectarian but in a state where the population suffers continuous violations of its rights, no one can deny the contribution of this small community.
Every day, far from the hypocrisy and religious prejudices of most, fifty children take classes here in which they learn fundamental subjects plus physical education and ballet.
"We attempt to give the children a basic and inclusive training", says Ana Aisha Lopez, director of the school, as she invites me to remove my shoes before viewing the carpeted building. "Children of all ages and different levels come here to learn. At the moment it is just the children of our Muslim community who come but soon we will be opening our doors to everyone without exception.
"The children begin the day learning to recite the Qur’an in Arabic. Later they go to the dining rooms and the classrooms. Respect, order and cleanliness are fundamental; we are strict like any other school, but we are certain that we show them the world without filters ".
In addition to the self-sufficient structure that the Sufis have set up, they have a pizzeria, a bakery, a carpentry workshop, and an ironmongery. They formed an estate that the organization then bought to enable them to obtain the license that gives them recognition as a religious association.
It has not been easy. They have suffered persecution, litigations and all kinds of accusations. The Catholic Church backs them and the community defends them, but Evangelical and Presbyterian groups continue to stir the waters in this traditional religious.
"We do our work quietly", says Suleiman, "We did not come to destroy but we have been accused of everything, even of sympathizing with ETA".
Esteban Lopez, also known as Hajj Idris, is second in charge and he accompanies me through the carpentry workshop and the ironmongery sharing the Muslim vision of community. Indigenous youth learn a trade and work on craft pieces made of wood which they sell in San Cristobal.
"Guild documents are fundamental. We established a hierarchical structure for the students so that they evolve from apprentices to masters assimilating the importance of commerce in ancient custom," the leader explains, and he adds, "We have to leave aside the banking system and its imposition of fictitious money. The objective is to achieve a free market that banishes the present system of usury".
There is an atmosphere of tranquillity on the streets. The indigenous converts to Islam demonstrate their total conviction in their choice.
There is no god but God and Muhammad is His Prophet; as I leave the community, the phrase on the mural appears to emanate a world that is as intriguing as it is amazing. Hundreds of Muslims are living in one of the bastions of Colombian evangelical efforts. Allahu Akbar!
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
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Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Muslims of Chiapas
From the Mexican Press
Indigenas de Ala... en el corazon de Chiapas
Milenio - 27th December, 2006 by Santiago Fourcade
The New Hope settlement follows the Sufi teachings brought by Spanish Sufis. From childhood the villagers learn a system based on self-sufficiency.
“You arrive punctually, it has just struck nine, the hour of God, although for you it is already ten on the Fox timetable", amiable Javier Lake notes the difference between his people and the ex- Mexican President. Hajj Suleiman, as he is also known, is forty one years old and a member of the Islamic Community of Mexico and a figure in a religious phenomenon of the continent, he is one of the indigenous Muslims of Chiapas.
Their history began decades ago, when dozens of Presbyterian families who were violently expelled from San Juan Chamula settled on the outskirts of San Cristobal. There they created the New Hope settlement as a symbol of the dispute with the traditional Catholic ‘indigenismo’. Years later an amazing change occurred.
Today, with Allah as their God, more than 300 Tzotzils and Tzeltals have embraced Islam in a region that is traditionally dominated by iron-fisted ecclesiastical orders.
It is not difficult to discover the evidence of this revolution, says Javier as he guides me through the streets of the neighbourhood where a group of Spanish Muslims disembarked 12 years ago, arriving with a dream ‘in their luggage’
“Islam is not just a religion to us,” explains Suleiman, "It is essential to develop an integrated project. It is a life style and we want to inculcate a return to the roots, where usury and capitalism have no place”.
"We place our trust in Allah. He guides us on this path towards the purest principles taught by the Prophet. We came years ago with an aim that was sustained by the vision of our Emir Nafia, and now we can say that it is yielding its fruits ". The words of Suleiman allude to their leader, Eureliano Perez Iruela, a Cordoban of the Sufi school who arrived in the early nineties to organize the future Islamic Community of Mexico.
Many have accused the Chiapa Muslims of being dangerous and sectarian but in a state where the population suffers continuous violations of its rights, no one can deny the contribution of this small community.
Every day, far from the hypocrisy and religious prejudices of most, fifty children take classes here in which they learn fundamental subjects plus physical education and ballet.
"We attempt to give the children a basic and inclusive training", says Ana Aisha Lopez, director of the school, as she invites me to remove my shoes before viewing the carpeted building. "Children of all ages and different levels come here to learn. At the moment it is just the children of our Muslim community who come but soon we will be opening our doors to everyone without exception.
"The children begin the day learning to recite the Qur’an in Arabic. Later they go to the dining rooms and the classrooms. Respect, order and cleanliness are fundamental; we are strict like any other school, but we are certain that we show them the world without filters ".
In addition to the self-sufficient structure that the Sufis have set up, they have a pizzeria, a bakery, a carpentry workshop, and an ironmongery. They formed an estate that the organization then bought to enable them to obtain the license that gives them recognition as a religious association.
It has not been easy. They have suffered persecution, litigations and all kinds of accusations. The Catholic Church backs them and the community defends them, but Evangelical and Presbyterian groups continue to stir the waters in this traditional religious.
"We do our work quietly", says Suleiman, "We did not come to destroy but we have been accused of everything, even of sympathizing with ETA".
Esteban Lopez, also known as Hajj Idris, is second in charge and he accompanies me through the carpentry workshop and the ironmongery sharing the Muslim vision of community. Indigenous youth learn a trade and work on craft pieces made of wood which they sell in San Cristobal.
"Guild documents are fundamental. We established a hierarchical structure for the students so that they evolve from apprentices to masters assimilating the importance of commerce in ancient custom," the leader explains, and he adds, "We have to leave aside the banking system and its imposition of fictitious money. The objective is to achieve a free market that banishes the present system of usury".
There is an atmosphere of tranquillity on the streets. The indigenous converts to Islam demonstrate their total conviction in their choice.
There is no god but God and Muhammad is His Prophet; as I leave the community, the phrase on the mural appears to emanate a world that is as intriguing as it is amazing. Hundreds of Muslims are living in one of the bastions of Colombian evangelical efforts. Allahu Akbar!
Indigenas de Ala... en el corazon de Chiapas
Milenio - 27th December, 2006 by Santiago Fourcade
The New Hope settlement follows the Sufi teachings brought by Spanish Sufis. From childhood the villagers learn a system based on self-sufficiency.
“You arrive punctually, it has just struck nine, the hour of God, although for you it is already ten on the Fox timetable", amiable Javier Lake notes the difference between his people and the ex- Mexican President. Hajj Suleiman, as he is also known, is forty one years old and a member of the Islamic Community of Mexico and a figure in a religious phenomenon of the continent, he is one of the indigenous Muslims of Chiapas.
Their history began decades ago, when dozens of Presbyterian families who were violently expelled from San Juan Chamula settled on the outskirts of San Cristobal. There they created the New Hope settlement as a symbol of the dispute with the traditional Catholic ‘indigenismo’. Years later an amazing change occurred.
Today, with Allah as their God, more than 300 Tzotzils and Tzeltals have embraced Islam in a region that is traditionally dominated by iron-fisted ecclesiastical orders.
It is not difficult to discover the evidence of this revolution, says Javier as he guides me through the streets of the neighbourhood where a group of Spanish Muslims disembarked 12 years ago, arriving with a dream ‘in their luggage’
“Islam is not just a religion to us,” explains Suleiman, "It is essential to develop an integrated project. It is a life style and we want to inculcate a return to the roots, where usury and capitalism have no place”.
"We place our trust in Allah. He guides us on this path towards the purest principles taught by the Prophet. We came years ago with an aim that was sustained by the vision of our Emir Nafia, and now we can say that it is yielding its fruits ". The words of Suleiman allude to their leader, Eureliano Perez Iruela, a Cordoban of the Sufi school who arrived in the early nineties to organize the future Islamic Community of Mexico.
Many have accused the Chiapa Muslims of being dangerous and sectarian but in a state where the population suffers continuous violations of its rights, no one can deny the contribution of this small community.
Every day, far from the hypocrisy and religious prejudices of most, fifty children take classes here in which they learn fundamental subjects plus physical education and ballet.
"We attempt to give the children a basic and inclusive training", says Ana Aisha Lopez, director of the school, as she invites me to remove my shoes before viewing the carpeted building. "Children of all ages and different levels come here to learn. At the moment it is just the children of our Muslim community who come but soon we will be opening our doors to everyone without exception.
"The children begin the day learning to recite the Qur’an in Arabic. Later they go to the dining rooms and the classrooms. Respect, order and cleanliness are fundamental; we are strict like any other school, but we are certain that we show them the world without filters ".
In addition to the self-sufficient structure that the Sufis have set up, they have a pizzeria, a bakery, a carpentry workshop, and an ironmongery. They formed an estate that the organization then bought to enable them to obtain the license that gives them recognition as a religious association.
It has not been easy. They have suffered persecution, litigations and all kinds of accusations. The Catholic Church backs them and the community defends them, but Evangelical and Presbyterian groups continue to stir the waters in this traditional religious.
"We do our work quietly", says Suleiman, "We did not come to destroy but we have been accused of everything, even of sympathizing with ETA".
Esteban Lopez, also known as Hajj Idris, is second in charge and he accompanies me through the carpentry workshop and the ironmongery sharing the Muslim vision of community. Indigenous youth learn a trade and work on craft pieces made of wood which they sell in San Cristobal.
"Guild documents are fundamental. We established a hierarchical structure for the students so that they evolve from apprentices to masters assimilating the importance of commerce in ancient custom," the leader explains, and he adds, "We have to leave aside the banking system and its imposition of fictitious money. The objective is to achieve a free market that banishes the present system of usury".
There is an atmosphere of tranquillity on the streets. The indigenous converts to Islam demonstrate their total conviction in their choice.
There is no god but God and Muhammad is His Prophet; as I leave the community, the phrase on the mural appears to emanate a world that is as intriguing as it is amazing. Hundreds of Muslims are living in one of the bastions of Colombian evangelical efforts. Allahu Akbar!
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