Islam in Cuba – from Christianity to Islam

Spanish Photographer Joan Alvado’s photo series, “Cuban Muslims,” focuses on the lives of those who have reverted to Islam.

Spanish Photographer Joan Alvado’s photo series, “Cuban Muslims,” focuses on the lives of those who have reverted to Islam.

“When I learned there was Islam and a Muslim community, I really liked it because I never heard of it,” Alvado said. “It was breaking all the preconceived ideas that we have about Cuban society.”

An estimated 85% of Cubans are Catholic, but only 0.1% of the population, just a few thousand people are Muslim, according to a 2009 study by the Pew Research Center.

Alvado says almost all of them are reverts, that applies to absolutely everybody in my series, he added. 

Alvado adds that this project was a great learning experience for him, “I have learned more things about Islam and Islamic beliefs and their ideas,” the Spanish photographer said.