Brazilian followers of Islam pray at Rio de Janeiro's first mosque, on August 13, 2011 during the Muslim holy month of Ramazan. - AFP Photo
RIO DE JANEIRO: “As-salam aleikum!” Omar greeted worshippers as he entered Mesquita da Luz, Rio’s first mosque where he had just broken his Ramazan fast at dusk.Those are some of the only words Omar knows in Arabic, and he quickly continued his conversation in Portuguese with fellow Muslims who mostly, like him, converted recently to Islam in the world’s biggest Catholic country.
In a land known more for its bikinis and extravagant Carnival featuring scantily clad women, a small but growing number of Brazilians of various backgrounds call themselves Muslim.
For decades, it was primarily families of Libyan, Palestinian and Syrian descent who practiced Islam in Brazil.
Omar, who until just four years ago officiated as Catholic priest at a local church, explained why he embraced Islam. Read the rest on:
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