Argentina
Argentina has the largest Muslim minority in South America. Although exact figures are not known, it is reported that Muslims comprise 1% of the country's population, which means that the Muslim minority in Argentina is close to half a million. Some reliable sources, such as the TDV Islamic Encyclopedia, raise this figure to 900,000.
The first contact of Argentina with Islam was established in the 16th century with forced migrations from Andalusia, but these first Muslims who came to the continent either went back later or had to convert due to the pressures of the local population.
From the second half of the 19th century onwards, there was an immense migration to Argentina from the Ottoman territories, especially from Lebanon and Syria. Although the majority of the immigrants were of Arab origin, they were referred to as "Turks" as they came from Ottoman lands. However, not all of these immigrants were Muslims, but also there were Christians and Jews among them. In 1914, the number of immigrants from the Ottoman Empire to Argentina was about 120,000. The migration wave continued mid-century, but this time it was largely Christian Arabs who emigrated. Today, it is estimated that approximately 3.5 million people in the Argentinian population are of Arab origin. Since the 1990s, there has also been migration from African countries to Argentina. As a result, Muslims from different backgrounds have come to the country.
The first organization established by the country's Muslims was launched in 1918 and named the Islamic Center of Argentina in 1957. Then the Arab-Argentinian Islamic Association was founded in 1960. In 1989, when Carlos Menem, nicknamed "El Turco", was elected as president, Muslims became more extensively organized in the country.
Today, the highest number of Muslims is in the capital Buenos Aires and especially in the city of La Angelita in the province. In Buenos Aires, where there are three mosques, Arabs represent the third largest ethnic group. In addition to secondary and higher education institutions providing religious education, various broadcasting activities are also ongoing in the country