, the first mosque ever in Mexico During the Mexican
Porfiriate, there was an open policy regarding investment and migration, mainly of people of European countries. Although, some immigrants from other countries, such as
Turkey,
Syria,
Lebanon and
Palestine, also arrived during that period. For the most part, they were Christians escaping
religious persecution of the Ottoman Empire; but there were a few Jews, some
non-Sunni Muslims, and people of
other religions, also immigrating into Mexico due to economic opportunity or escape from religious persecution. The muslims who immigrated during the Porfiriate however, decided to settle down in places such as
Yucatán,
Veracruz,
Nuevo León,
Coahuila, Mexico City and
Puebla; due to the economic opportunities said states had to offer. Once there, several Islamic Organizations were formed, with most of them adhering to the
Sunni Branch of
Islam; however,
Salafists,
Shia's, and
Sufi muslims also have presence and mosques of their own. Today, most Mexican Islamic organizations focus on grassroots missionary activities, which are most effective at the community level. The most important Islamic organizations in Mexico include:
The Educative Center of the Muslim Community In Mexico: Sunni organization, which operates in
Mexico City. It runs an educational center, managed mainly by Muslims from Egypt and the Middle East, and is run by
Said Louahabi.
Cultural Islamic Center of Mexico: Sunni organization headed by
Omar Weston, a British-born Mexican convert to Islam, which has been active in several cities of northern and central Mexico. In the state of
Morelos, it operates a mosque, called "
Dar as Salaam", and it also operates Hotel Oasis, a hotel that offers
halal vacation alternatives for Muslim travelers and accommodation for non-Muslims sympathetic to Islam. This group was the subject of a study carried out by British anthropologist Mark Lindley-Highfield, of the Department of Anthropology at the
University of Aberdeen.
Musalla Al-Ajirah: Run by
Muhammad Abdullah Ruiz, a former deputy to Weston, the
Musalla is considered to be the only center of
salafists in the country.
Sufi Order in Mexico City: Sufi organization, which is a Mexican branch of the
Nur Ashki Jerrahi order, headed by two women,
Shaykha Fatima Fariha and
Shaykha Amina Teslima.
Al Hikmah Institute of Arabic Language and Culture: Sunni organization run by
Isa Rojas. A Mexican convert to Islam, who
studied Islam in the
University of Medina, within the capital city.
Amir al-Muminin Islamic Center: Twelver Shia organization which operates in
Mexico City,
Mexico State, and
Morelos. It hosts religious events for Mexican Shia Muslims, such as the commemoration of
Muharram,
Mawlid,
Fatimiyya, among others. It also provides
halal food options for Mexican Muslims and educative resources for Shia's, Sunnis, and non-Muslims alike. ==Demographics==