Islam in Liberia

Islam in Liberia is practiced by 10% of the population.cite book|last=Larkin|first=Barbara|year=2001|title=International Religious Freedom (2000): Report to Congress by the Department of State|pages=46] The vast majority of Liberian Muslims are Sunni, with only a few Shi'ites, mostly of Lebanese origin.Fact|date=January 2008 The primary Muslim ethnic groups are the Vai and Mandingo. Muslims first came to what is now Liberia between the 11th century.Fact|date=January 2008 America-Liberian Methodists, the first Christians in Liberia, arrived on January 7, 1822.cite book|last=Olukoju|first=Ayodeji|year=|title=Culture and Customs of Liberia|pages=28]

Americo-Liberians

Muslims generally suffered under the Americo-Liberian governments of Liberia from its inception. Momolu Dukuly, the first high-level Muslim government official, served as Foreign Minister in the Barclay and Tubman administrations. Dukuly had to apostate himself and embrace Christianity before entering the government. Ruth Perry, former prominent ambassador, is also an example of this policy of forced Christianization.

Charles Taylor

President Charles Taylor promulgated Islam for political reasons. Taylor, an ally of Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi, trained in Libya before returning to Libya. Taylor's government sent 220 Muslims to Mecca to do Hajj in 2001 and gave the Liberia Muslim's council a prominent building in Monrovia and the designation of two hours of national broadcasting weekly for Islam-related programming.

2000s

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Society of Liberia held their seventh annual Jalsa Salana convention on December 29, 2007. Numerous joint Arabic and English schools are being constructed in the capital an its environs. Laurence K. Bropleh, Liberia's Information Minister and a reverend, attended as a guest speaker. Minister Bropleh called on the nation's legislature to designate non-Christian holidays as national holidays, specifically Hajj. He also suggested establishing a religious advisory board, representing all of the major religions practiced in Liberia, to advise the President. Methodist leaders condemned Bropleh's comments and accused him of fueling inter-religious tension.cite web|author=Konah L. Parker|year=2008|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200801080783.html|title=Liberia: Monrovia District Conference Condemns Information Minister's Statements Against the Christian Church|format=HTML|publisher=AllAfrica|accessdate=20078-01-09]

References

External links

* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1985/liberia_2_religiousaffliation_ethnicity.htm Globalsecurity.org report on religion in Liberia]
* [http://www.theliberiandialogue.org/articles/asarnoh/c111502als.htm| "The Status of Liberia Muslims And The Advocacy For Sharia Courts" 15 November 2002]
* [http://theperspective.org/articles/0617200501.html "Religion And Power in Liberia" 17 June 2005]
* [http://www.islamicpopulation.com/liberia_muslim.html Islamicpopulation.com: Liberian Muslims]