Islam in Niger
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Demographics
Majority of Muslims are
History
Islam was spread into what is now Niger beginning in the 15th century, by both the expansion of the
The region around Say, on the
Contemporary Islam
Government support
The government does not directly fund religion and is legally separated from religious practice, but has funded several Muslim-oriented programs, such as a Muslim radio ministry and given US$18.5 Million in 1982 towards the establishment of the Islamic University of Niger in Say, itself founded and partially funded through donations from the Arab world.[6]
The government has made three Muslim feasts national holidays, as well as two Christian holidays.[7]
1990s conflict
In the 1990s there surfaced agitation for a move to the institutionalization of a
Tolerance
These events were seen then and now as more exception than rule, with interfaith relations deemed very good, and the forms of Islam traditionally practiced in most of the country marked by tolerance of other faiths and lack of restrictions on personal freedom.[15] Divorce and Polygyny are unremarkable, women are not secluded, and head coverings are not mandatory—they are often a rarity in urban areas.[16] Alcohol, such as the locally produced Bière Niger, is sold openly in most of the country.
Syncretic beliefs
Despite a long history in what is today Niger, Islam did not become the dominant faith of many rural areas until the 20th century. The continuation of some elements of traditional beliefs continue both is small isolated pockets, and in practices of larger groups of nominal Muslim Nigeriens. Communities who continue to practice elements of traditional religions are often marked out as ethnic sub groups of the
See also
References
- ^ Institut national de la statistique (November 2015). "Recensement général de la population et de l'habitat 2012" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on July 13, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
- Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (September 14, 2007). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "The World's Muslims: Unity and Diversity" (PDF). Pew Forum on Religious & Public life. August 9, 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
- ^ a b Decalo (1997) p. 261-2, 158, 230
- ISBN 0-8108-1229-0pp. 156-7, 193-4.
- ^ Decalo (1997) p.170
- ^ International Religious Freedom Report 2001: Niger Archived 2020-08-04 at the Wayback Machine. United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (October 26, 2001).
- ^ Decalo (1997) p. 261
- ^ Ramzi Ben Amara. The Development of the Izala Movement in Nigeria: Its Split, Relationship to Sufis and Perception of Sharia Implementation Archived 2016-12-28 at the Wayback Machine. Research Summary (n.d.)
- ^ Nigeria Christian / Muslim Conflict Archived 2018-01-18 at the Wayback Machine, GlobalSecurity.org (n.d.)
- ^ Dr. Shedrack Best. Summary: Nigeria, The Islamist Challenge, the Nigerian 'Shiite' Movement Archived 2009-01-13 at the Wayback Machine, Searching for Peace in Africa (1999).
- ^ School's still out for girls Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine. The Independent (London). Monday, 5 September 2005.
- ^ Niger[permanent dead link]: The Muslim American Society, 16 February 2004.
- ISBN 0-19-512559-2pp.233-234
- ^ Islam is thriving in impoverished Niger Archived 2016-12-28 at the Wayback Machine. 6 December 1997 (Reuters)
- ^ Dossier 17: The Muslim Religious Right ('Fundamentalists') and Sexuality Archived 2009-03-16 at the Wayback Machine. Ayesha M. Imam, WLUML, (November 1997)
- ^ Decalo (1997) pp.261-262, 206, 207
External links
- Samuel Decalo. Historical Dictionary of Niger (3rd ed.). Scarecrow Press, Boston & Folkestone, (1997) ISBN 0-8108-3136-8
- "Islam and Niger"