by Ilisha
These days it seems even kooky conspiracy theories have gone mutliculti.
Recently a visitor left a comment assuring us he’s not too worried about “the Mooslems” in America, but only because the real problem is the alleged “Mestizo threat,” which is apparently being facilitated by “the Joos,” who are somehow responsible for our “open borders.” Just to be sure we’re clear on his equal-opportunity bigotry, he added that it’s Europe that has the “Mooslem problem.”
Mudéjar-Style Building (aka Mooslamic Architecture Jihad)
Although many bigots seem especially concerned about Mexican Mestizo-Hispanic types taking over the country, a recent report from the Pew Research Center suggests the wave of Mexican immigration to the US has come to a halt, and in fact, the Mexican population in the US is actually decreasing. As it turns out, immigration seems to be influenced largely by economics and labor markets, and not some cabal of puppet masters from a certain religious or ethnic group. But why let facts stand in the way of a juicy, hate-filled conspiracy theory?
Now equal opportunity bigots in America have two contenders for Most Scary Diabolical Plot: The Left-Islamist Stealth Jihad and the Judeo-Mestizo Reconquista. Why settle for just one when you can have both?
While the Left-Islamist alliance seems to be steadily gaining a foothold in the US, where the Mooslems may someday reach a whopping 2% of the population, it seems there are some alarming trends south of the border that also deserve prompt attention: The Mooslems may be taking over Mexico too! Though they still comprise less than 1% of the population, these Mexican Mooslems are concentrated in a handful of cities–where they willfully refuse to eat pork and–¡Ay, caramba!–possibly consort with the Joos.
Islam in Mexico
by Nayantara Mukherji, Inside Islam, University of Wisconsin
Although traditionally known for its strong Catholic community, Mexico is also home to a small yet diverse community of Muslims. According to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, the country had about 110,000 Muslims in 2009. That’s less than 1 percent of the population of Mexico. But according to Zidane Zeraoui, professor of international relations at the Technological University of Monterrey, the history of Islam in Mexico goes back to its earliest days. In my interview with Zeraoui here in Madison, he emphasized the fact that Muslims and Jews actually came to Mexico early in the colonial period.
There were ‘false Christians,’ or marranos who came to Latin America as Catholics converted by force. Officially, they were Catholics, but inside, in their private lives, they were still practicing their religions.
Zeraoui said there are many indications of early Jewish and Muslim migrations in Mexico. For example, many buildings in Mexico (including churches, convents, and government buildings) are built in an architectural style called “Mudéjar,” a term that refers to Muslims living under Christian rule in Spain. The city Zeraoui lives in, Monterrey, was founded by marranos, and even today, Jewish and Muslim influences remain strong in the city. Unlike the rest of Mexico, Zeraoui says people in Monterrey prefer goat meat to pork, an influence of kosher and halal food practices. They even have a type of meat they call “Sarassan meat.”
In Monterray, we don’t eat much pork, but if you were to go to Mexico City, the basis of food is pork.
Muslims in Mexico are generally concentrated in four cities: Tequesquitengo in Morelos, Torreón in Coahuila, San Cristobal de las Casas in Chiapas, and Mexico City. About half the Muslims in Mexico today are converts/reverts. The groups are extremely diverse, and include both Shias and Sunnis.
Nayantara Mukherji is a journalist, editor, Inside Islam radio producer, and a recent addition to the writing team at the University of Wisconsin.
