Latino Muslim Reporter

Por: Wendy Díaz La primera vez que viajé a Puerto Rico usando el hiyab, el velo que usamos las mujeres musulmanas, fue en el año 2002. En ese tiempo no conocía a ningún musulmán en la isla, hasta visitar una mezquita en Rio Piedras. Fue allí donde supe que había otras mezquitas en Puerto Rico y otros musulmanes puertorriqueños, aunque aprendí que la gran mayoría de los musulmanes en la isla eran árabes inmigrantes. Entonces comencé a entender quiénes eran los misteriosos árabes a quienes mi abuela les compraba productos de vez en cuando, al pasar por el pueblo con mercancía en los baúles de sus carros. Los había visto cuando era niña y quizás hasta les había hecho un gesto para que esperaran mientras mi abuela buscaba dinero en su monedera para pagarles. Después, cuando ya había sido musulmana por varios años y fui de visita una vez más a mi isla, de nuevo pude ver a un vendedor ambulante árabe. Se detuvo frente a la casa de mi tía, donde yo me estaba hospedando. Mi tía le estab...

A devastated U.S. Territory sets out on the long road to recovery By Wendy Díaz ( An edited version of this article appeared in the Jan/Feb 2018 issue of Islamic Horizons Magazine: https://issuu.com/isnacreative/docs/ih_january-february_18 ) La mezquita de Vega Alta or the Vega Alta Mosque is an iconic site for Puerto Rican Muslims. Nestled on a mountaintop surrounded by broad palm branches and lush greenery, the mosque, also known as Masjid Al Farooq, is visible from Route 2 in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico. Some have even described it as resembling a castle, with its single dome and minaret towering over the rectangular structure with arched windows; it is the largest Islamic center in Puerto Rico. Like other buildings and residences on this tropical paradise, its cement walls have been painted and repainted in bright color patterns, forest green and mint years ago, and more recently a rusty orange with blue accents. On an island whose Muslim population is only between .1% and .2% ...

By: Wendy Díaz One of the Muslim driven initiatives for Puerto Rico relief is the Three Puerto Rican Imams Project, under the leadership of Imam Abdullah Daniel Hernandez, Imam Wesley “Abu Sumayyah” Lebrón, and Imam Jose “Yusuf” Rios. Rios, from Cleveland, Ohio, has been Muslim for about 20 years. He holds a BA in Philosophy and Sociology and is completing his MA in Islamic Sciences at the Islamic University of Minnesota. He is the director of Shaukani Institute for Islamic Education and Leadership Development, and is also involved in social service projects, as well as chaplaincy work with incarcerated youth and university students. His current focus is on the Three Puerto Rican Imams Project for Relief in Puerto Rico and he has traveled to Puerto Rico twice since Hurricane María. During his first visit, he partnered with ICNA Relief to assess the damages in the most devastated areas of the island and coordinate future relief efforts. The following is an interview with Imam...

Fruits of Hurricane Maria: A Multi Faith Coalition for Puerto Rico By: Imam Daniel Abdullah Hernández The Three Puerto Rican Imams strive to build a multifaceted coalition based on the universal principles of solidarity, love, humanity, mercy, collaboration, and service. In unity with the beautiful people of Puerto Rico, the Three Puerto Rican Imams are joining their hands, hearts, and efforts with other individuals and organizations for the sake of providing necessary relief after the terrible hurricane, Maria. They have fully committed themselves to this task. Acknowledging the fact that the resources are scarce, we thought it would be best to work collaboratively with others who share our passion and concern. The objective is to maximize the impact and, with God's help, achieve greater results. Many of the organizations that have joined the Three Puerto Rican Imams Project represent multiple faiths. Based on the teachings of the Qur’an, we believe in respect for people...

Puerto Rico – What You Should Know • Puerto Rico is a self-governing commonwealth in association with the United States. It is not a state of the union, but it has been under the control of the United States since it was annexed in 1898, at the end of the Spanish-American War. The chief of state is the US President and the head of government is an elected Governor. • Before it was colonized by Spain in 1508, Puerto Rico was called Boriken or Borinquen, which means: "the great land of the valiant and noble Lord" or "land of the great lords," by its native inhabitants, the Taínos. The word Boricua refers to a person of Puerto Rican origin. • It’s an archipelago, or a group of islands, consisting of one larger island and two inhabited islets in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Florida and east of Cuba and Hispaniola (Haiti/Dominican Republic.) • The population in Puerto Rico is approx. 3.4 million. • Ethnic composition: white (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%...

The 3 Puerto Rican Imams Project is a long-term endeavor that seeks to provide solutions to the needs of the people of Puerto Rico. In its initial planning stages, it was meant to be an outreach-driven initiative to provide educational and social services to the Muslim community. However, after the devastating natural disasters that occurred in September, Hurricanes Irma and, more notably, María, the project became an emergency relief effort that extended not just to the Muslims of Puerto Rico, but to all Puerto Ricans. These powerful cyclones literally hit home for the directors, three Puerto Rican Muslim leaders (Imam Abdullah Daniel Hernández, Imam Jose “Yusuf” Rios, and Imam Wesley “Abu Sumayyah” Lebrón) and their supporters, who share both their pain and vision, making this a mission of love and solidarity. The project is unique in that it unites various organizations and works collaboratively with others inside and outside of the island, while still working independently in i...

By Wesley "Abu Sumayyah" Lebrón We commenced our day by loading our van with the AgitArte crew in preparation to deliver food to “La Olla” community kitchen in Rio Piedras. Most of the food delivered was from AgitArte but we added some food donations to what they had already put together for this community, thereby providing them with a larger quantity of items. We drove out with them to Rio Piedras and upon arriving, one of the volunteers onsite asked me if the van we were driving had donations for the community kitchen. After informing him of our intentions, he went inside to gather volunteers to help unload the truck. I was immediately amazed that everyone wanted to be involved! People who were there to be served came out to carry boxes of food into the space where they were storing the items, and after we were done they resumed eating their breakfast. “La Olla” was also providing a table topped with free clothing items from which the people could take. There were ...

By Wesley "Abu Sumayyah" Lebrón Today was a day filled with blessings and life-changing experiences. We started our day by heading to Adjuntas to see my family who lost their 17-year-old daughter just 5 days ago due to leptospirosis, a bacterial infection originating from the urine of rats and other infected animals. Due to the poor living conditions in Puerto Rico after Hurricane María, characterized by debris and garbage littering the roads and residential areas, these types of diseases are becoming more common in many areas on the island. Besides seeing my family, giving them my sincerest condolences while hugging and embracing them, the purpose of our trip was also to pay for the entire funeral costs with money donated by the Muslim community. When I had informed my cousin previously over the phone that the Muslim community would cover the funeral expenses for his daughter, he immediately broke down crying while expressing his gratitude to the Muslims and the 3 Puert...

By Wesley "Abu Sumayyah" Lebrón By Wesley "Abu Sumayyah" Lebrón The 3 Imams Project arrived in Puerto Rico today and the project was blessed immediately. We had rented a mini van and upon arriving to the car rental they informed us that they did not have a van available, but that they could give us a SUV. We told them, “We will take it even though we preferred the van.” As this process was taking place, I was speaking with the lady who was doing our paperwork and she was telling me how bad things were during and after Hurricane María. During this time, Imam Yusuf Rios was speaking to the bag concierge, who was also informing the Imam of how gas prices have taken an extreme hike. The lady with whom I spoke was shocked that we were Muslims because of the beautiful character she immediately saw and experienced (Masha'Allah). She informed me that the Muslims she had met previously always seemed to have a poor attitude, similar to her neighbor who is also a Musl...

Que viva Puerto Rico Libre By Wesley “Abu Sumayyah” Lebrón As a Puerto Rican living on the mainland, I find myself waking up every morning wondering what new struggle, challenge, or life-altering change I am going to read about today concerning Puerto Rico. I wonder if my family, friends, or acquaintances will receive another tragic call from Puerto Rico regarding someone else passing away, someone else being hospitalized, someone else being hurt, etc. This is life after Hurricane Maria. I ask myself, “Will we read another devastating story due to the lack of true help reaching our people? Will the people be cornered into another difficult situation? Will the people be charged for another service they cannot afford? Will they continue to be put under constant pressure until they eventually abandon the island altogether? Will this be history replaying itself all over again for Puerto Ricans?” Daily, I struggle with the thought, "What will happen if the island is forgotten?...

Wendy Díaz interviews José Acevedo regarding the aftermath of Hurricane María in Puerto Rico José Acevedo is a Puerto Rican Muslim who embraced Islam while pursing his studies at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor where he received his Masters Degree in Education (Curriculum and Instruction) and a dual-bachelors in History and Sociology. Jose has dedicated his career to youth education and development, serving as Principal, teacher, and youth director at numerous Islamic and public schools in the Baltimore/DC metro areas. He also has provided consulting services in the areas of organizational development, parenting, and homeschooling. He has initiated and developed many projects such as youth camps, Islamic Studies curricula, sustainable farming, and homeschooling services. WD: Were you born in Puerto Rico? How often do you visit or have you visited? ​JA: My parents were born in PR and I was born in Chicago. I used to visit every other year growing up. WD: As a Puerto Ric...

By Wesley "Abu Sumayyah" Lebrón At times I feel like I need to scream, cry, and drop to my knees when thinking about Puerto Rico and my people, especially now that the reality of death has struck home with my own family. My heart and soul is with my family in PR. I lost a cousin last night to the bacteria in the water. She was only 17 and died within two days. Many have no clue of the oppression our people currently face. You wake up not knowing about eating healthy because the food you’ve been given lacks the adequate nutrients. You fear drinking the water because it has become infected with bacteria! You fear to now wash your clothes in the river after catching a skin rash and your kids come out with a fever soon thereafter. You fear to drink soda and juice from cans because you just lost a family member who drank and as a result died because of the bacteria within two days. The heat at night is suffocating. The shower is ice cold for those who have water and for th...

In the popular book turned movie, The Hunger Games, set in a post-apocalyptic world, the Capitol of Panem (bread in Latin), rules over thirteen nation-states referred to as districts. After one district attempts to ignite a rebellion against the Capitol, the ruling government obliterates it completely and establishes an annual ritual of carnage as a punishment and reminder. In these “Hunger Games,” two youngsters from each remaining district, called “tributes,” are randomly chosen to compete for survival, while the Capitol places in their path sadistic obstacles and challenges. A bloodthirsty audience watch as each contestant attempts to kill the other for essentials such as food and water. Witnesses of the gory charade are able, if moved by their human emotions, to offer aid to the contestants they feel are most worthy. One outcome is certain, only the one most favored will survive. This scenario may seem only fathomable in a Hollywood fantasy, however, the struggle for survival i...

Disappointed, pained, hurt, heartbroken, concerned, frustrated, helpless, desperate, angry, and powerless; these are just some of the words that Puerto Ricans living in the United States use to describe how they feel about the events unfolding on the island in the aftermath of Hurricane María. The powerful category 4 cyclone made landfall on September 20, 2017 and pounded the island with a full day of heavy rains and violent maximum sustained winds of 155 mph. Entering though the southeastern city of Yabucoa and exiting through the northern town of Arecibo, María left no stone unturned in her destruction. Puerto Rico’s residents hardly had time to brace themselves for their second hurricane in a month; the previous, Irma, had ravaged parts of the Northeast on September 7th. Nevertheless, nothing could have prepared them for the strongest storm to hit the island in almost a hundred years. The damage that it left behind has been described as “apocalyptic.” The entire population was af...