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PAS : KE ARAH PEMERINTAHAN ISLAM YANG ADIL
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Islam is also an alternative for Latinos in the United
States
by Anna Cuenca
Latinos who don't drink, eat pork or even dance might
feel out of step with their families or with other
Latin Americans. Just the same, about 40,000 Latinos
living in the United States find that Islam meets
other needs and provides an alternative community.
"Some claim they are dissatisfied with Christianity,
some are interested in the more active practice that
Islam offers. Some find out about Islam through
friends and family," said Samantha Sanchez, president
of Latino American Dawah Organization, one of several
US organizations of Latino Muslims.
Marta Galedary, a Mexican immigrant who discovered
Islam through friends 20 years ago, now organizes
study groups for Latinos at the Los Angeles Islamic
Center.
"People came to us out of curiosity and asked for
literature about Islam in Spanish, so we realized that
we needed to reach out to non-Muslims," said Galedary,
whose group numbers 25 to 30. "Everyone knows someone
who is interested."
In California, as in Texas, the majority of Muslim
Latinos are Mexicans or Central Americans who arrived
some years ago and haven't mastered English. On the
East Coast, the communities are mostly Puerto Rican or
Dominican, and many were born in the United States,
said Ismi Saraji, who lives in New York.
Recent converts have little problem giving up pork,
liquor and dance, said Saraji. The problem is getting
their families to accept their new lifestyles.
"The problem for them is how their families may feel
betrayed by them.
My cousin was still trying to feed me pork pies for
years after I converted. When I mentioned the problem
with pork, she would just say: 'So don't eat that
part'," said Saraji.
"My parents still don't understand a lot about my
religion and I sometimes feel that they don't want to
understand something that they don't like," said
Mercedes Zeenni, a Mexican-born California resident
who converted to Islam 11 years ago, before marrying
her Lebanese boyfriend.
So strong is the fear of rejection that some follow
Islam in secret.
"I'm always worried that the people I love the most
will reject me. My grandparents still don't know. I
think the fear of rejection is one that all new
converts fear," said Juan Galvan, of Texas.
Nearly all Latino converts to Islam had been
practicing Catholics who were to some degree
uncomfortable with Catholicism.
"I was Catholic. But from the start, it seemed that
Islam gave more answers to my questions, was more
direct, without mysteries, and making it easier for me
to understand what it meant to believe in God," said
Zeenni.
The September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and
the Pentagon, committed by Islamic extremists, have
only created more misunderstandings. "One of my
sisters said something like: 'That leader of y'all,
he's gonna call a holy war.' I wonder how many
Americans believe that (Osama) bin Laden is the Muslim
leader," said Galvan.
"People act as if some Arab in Saudi Arabia has a long
list of Muslims and can call any of them when he wants
to commit an act of terrorism."
"Right now, the main difficulties I think that we as a
community are facing is to counter the negative images
and misconceptions," Saraji added.[AFP]
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