Statistics for Islam in Chile estimate a total Muslim population of approximately 4,000, representing less than 0.1% of the population. There are a number of Islamic organizations in Chile, including the ?Muslim Society of Chile and As-Salam Mosque? (Spanish: Sociedad Musulmana de Chile y Mezquita As-Salam) in Santiago, Chile, ?Bilal Mosque?(Mezquita Bilal) in Iquique, and the ?Mohammed VI Cultural Center? (Centro Cultural Mohammed VI) in Coquimbo. It is known that in 1854 two ?Turks? resided in the country, a situation that was repeated in the censuses of 1865 and 1875. Their country of origin is not known, just that they were natives of some territory of the immense Ottoman Empire, and this was followed two years later by the first major wave of Muslims to Chile began in 1856, with the arrival of Arab immigrants from the Ottoman Empire territories consisting of today?s Syria, Lebanon and Palestine. According to the 1885 census, the number of ?Turks? had risen to 29, but there is no precise information on their origin and their faith, since religion was not included in that census. However, the census of 1895 registered the presence of 76 ?Turks?, 58 of them Muslims, who were primarily concentrated in the north of Chile in Tarapac?, Atacama, Valparaiso, and Santiago. In the census of 1907, the Muslim population was reported to have increased to 1,498 people, all of them foreigners. They were 1,183 men and 315 women, representing only 0.04 percent of the population, although this was recorded as the highest percentage of Muslims. In 1920 a new census showed that the number of Muslims had decreased to 402, with 343 men and 59 women. The greatest numbers were in Santiago and Antofagasta, with 76 in each province. The latest census figures from 2002 found a total of 2,894 muslims living in Chile (0.03% of the population over 15), 66% of whom were men. The previous census of 1992 did not include Islam as an alternative. In Santiago, the first Islamic institution of Chile, the Society of Muslim Union of Chile (Sociedad Uni?n Musulmana), was founded on Sept. 25, 1926. Later, on October 16, 1927, the Society of Mutual Aids and Islamic Charity was established. With the 1952 census, the number of Muslims had risen again to 956. The majority lived in Santiago, with the rest of the population scattered in the provinces of Antofagasta, Coquimbo, Valpara?so, O?Higgins, Concepci?n, Malleco, Caut?n and Valdivia, without much organization among them. Their numbers decreased again, so that by 1960 there were only 522, with the majority of 209 living in Santiago. A decade later, the number of Muslims had increased to 1,431. However, the census did not indicate whether they were men or women, nationals or foreigners. Nevertheless, they were spread throughout the country. In 1988, the construction of the mosque of Santiago named Mezquita As-Salam was initiated by Sheikh Taufiq Rumie?, who had led the Muslim community for more than 60 years. The mosque was finished in 1989 and was inaugurated by a prince of Malaysia in 1996, and it was reported that by end of the 1980s, some indigenous Chileans had also converted to Islam, with numbers increasing after the completion of the mosque. Muslim Chilean population was increased by the presence of foreign trade and investment from Muslim countries. Many Malaysian businessmen and their families settled Chile after the inauguration of the mosque by a Malaysian prince. In 1997, Pakistani retailers purchased land for the construction of the Bilal Mosque and madrasa in Iquique, which was completed in 1999. Following the death of Sheikh Taufiq Rumie? in 1998, Usama Abu Gazaleh was elected Imam of the mosque following the passing of Taufiq Rumie?. Through the 1970s and ?80s, there were no religious leaders or centers for praying. Muslims who maintained the faith met in the residence of Taufiq Rumie? Dalu, a trader of Syrian origin. In 1990 the construction of the Al-Salam Mosque began, the first of the country. In 1995 another mosque was inaugurated in Temuco, and 1998 a new one in Iquique. Sources of the Islamic community indicate that at the moment, in Chile, there are 3,000 Muslims. Many of those are Chileans who, as a result of their conversion, have even changed their names. In spite of the small number of believers, they are not a homogenous community. Ramadan The 3,000 Muslims that live in Chile try to integrate their lives with their spiritual beliefs in a difficult environment. The celebration of the month of Ramadan possesses an important religious and social meaning for the Islamic community and Latin America is no exception. In the Hispanic world, Muslims should adapt their schedules in order to break their fast, but at times, due to work difficulties, they have no choice but to delay it. They are limited to breaking the fast with a glass of water, and have to wait until they leave work to break the fast collectively as tradition states. Fareed Maymoun, a Moroccan immigrant, is used to waking up early to go to his job as a construction worker, but when Ramadan starts he gets up half an hour before sunrise. An important time for me. For the 3 years that I have been living in Chile Ramadan has a very special meaning for me. The first day is marked by a reunion at the mosque to celebrate another year, and break the fast together with the rest of the community. Christian co-workers are now used to my fasting. When we are on our lunch break many openly admire the will of those who are fasting, although they do not understand why we do it, he states. The first days of Ramadan as well as the last days are marked by family visits while children enjoy their new toys and sweets. The Islamic Center itself fills with children and their parents, when the prayers are finished families get together to enjoy the many activities. In the mosque a festive atmosphere is evident, people fill the halls and their children run from here to there. The majority of families take advantage of this day to eat together.We prepare Mote con huesillo, a special juice with pieces of dried apricot, explains a Muslim Chilean national. __
