Islam in Costa Rica
Islam in Costa Rica refers to the practice of Islam in the Republic of Costa Rica. Without an official number by any state entity, it is considered that the number of Muslims in Costa Rica could be between 1000 and 1500 people, mostly immigrants from Algeria, India, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Morocco, Egypt, Somalia, Pakistan, Palestine and Syria. This number includes Muslims who have emigrated to Costa Rican territory as well as those Costa Ricans who have embraced the Islamic faith through conversion, whose number is estimated at 100. It is also unknown with The number of Muslims corresponding to the Sunni and Shia factions is accurate, although it is generally considered that the Sunnis are the majority.
Currently there are three mosques in Costa Rica; the Omar Mosque located in the Montelimar district in the Goicoechea Canton, which meets on Friday afternoons and is managed by the Muslim Cultural Center of Costa Rica. This was the first in the country and was founded in 2002. It is officiated by the Egyptian-born Sheikh Omar Abdel Aziz and affiliated with the Islamic Organization for Culture, Education and Sciences based in Rabat, Morocco. The Light and Faith Mosque, also Sunni, is located in downtown San José and it is presided over by Jennifer Rashida Torres. The Shiite mosque is sponsored by the Sahar Cultural Center and is located also in San José. Before the foundation of the Shia mosque, the Shiites congregated to pray in a private house or attended the Sunni mosque without problems. Ahmadiya Muslims also have a center in Costa Rica.
