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MIAMI, Oct 26, 2005 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Hispanic women who have converted to Islam are exerting influence in the United States way beyond their numbers, The Miami Herald reported.
While just a fraction of the nation's 6 million Muslims, female Hispanic converts are teaching Spanish-Arabic classes, forming organizations and distributing Spanish translations of the Koran.
The Islamic Society of North America says there are about 400,000 U.S. Hispanic Muslims. The largest populations are in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and Texas.
"It's a movement that is growing, particularly in urban areas," University of Florida religion Professor Manuel Vasquez told the newspaper. "It's part of the cross-fertilization that's occurring among immigrant groups."
For some such as Melissa Matos, born in the Dominican Republic to Seventh-day Adventists, the change was not easy.
"I feel alienated from my family and my old friends, but Islam is so beautiful, it's worth it," said the Florida International University student.
However, Fatima Narvaez, who lives with her grandparents, in Davie, Fla., said they accommodated her need to eat halal food -- meat slaughtered according to Islamic law -- and skip pork.
URL: www.upi.com Copyright 2005 by United Press International
