Islam is the third-largest religion in Suriname, representing 13.9% of the country's total population as of 2012, which is the highest percentage of Muslims in the Americas. The majority of Surinamese Muslims belong to the Sunni branch of Islam.
Some speculate that Muslims first came to Suriname as slaves from West Africa and then were converted to Christianity over time, even though there is little proof for these speculations. The ancestors of the actual Muslim population came to the country as indentured laborers from the British Raj and Dutch East Indies, from whom today most Muslims in Suriname are descended.
The forms of Islam in Suriname are strongly influenced by the culture of the regions of origin: South Asia (India, Pakistan and Afghanistan) and Indonesia (Java). Apart from descent, most Surinamese Muslims also share the same culture and speak the same languages.
East-west divide The first Javanese Muslims to come to Suriname built their mosques facing west as they did in Java. It was only until contact with Hindustani Muslims in the 1930s that people realized that Mecca is east of Suriname. This created a divide between Muslims who prayed to the east (wong ngadep ngetan) and west (wong ngadep ngulon). The east-worshipping Muslims were more orthodox in their religion, whereas those who worshipped to the west were Javanese and clung more to their traditional Javanese culture.
Demographics
There are 75,053 Muslims in Suriname, according to the 2012 census. This number is up from 66,307 Muslims in 2004. The share of Muslims of Indo-Surinamese descent decreased from 17% to 13% in the same period (-4%), mainly because of emigration to the Netherlands and declining fertility rates. The share of Muslims among Maroon people doubled from 0.1% to 0.2%. Year Suriname (population) Muslim population Share (%) 1964 324,893 63,809 19.6% 1971 379,607 74,170 19.5% 1980 355,240 69,713 19.6% 2004 492,829 66,307 13.5% 2012 541,638 75,053 13.9%
Ethnic groups Islam is the main religion among Javanese Surinamese people (67%) and the second largest religion among Indo-Surinamese people (13%) and multiracial people (8%). Islam by ethnic group as of 2012 Ethnic group Population Muslims % Javanese Surinamese 73,975 49,533 67.0% Indo-Surinamese 148,443 18,734 12.6% Multiracial people 72,340 5,471 7.6% All Afro-Surinamese 206,423 621 0.3% Amerindians 20,344 138 0.7% Chinese Surinamese 7,885 112 1.4% White Surinamese 1,665 32 1.9% Others and indefinable 10,561 412 3.9%
Geographical distribution
Commewijne District has the highest share of Muslims (mostly Javanese Surinamese), followed by Nickerie District and Wanica District (mostly Indo-Surinamese). Share of Muslims by district according to 2004 Census District Percent of Muslims Commewijne District 40.4% Nickerie 22.5% Wanica 21.7% Saramacca 18.8% Para 11.3% Coronie 11.0% Paramaribo 9.4% Marowijne 6.8% Brokopondo 0.2% Sipaliwini 0.1% Suriname 13.5%
Muslim World Suriname (since 1996) and Guyana (since 1998) are the only countries in the Americas which are member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
Notable Muslims
Rashied Doekhi, politician Iding Soemita, politician Paul Somohardjo, politician Janey Tetary, indentured labourer, rebellion leader and resistance fighter
See also
Latin American Muslims Latino Muslims Islam in Guyana Religion in Suriname Hinduism in Suriname Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
References
Further reading