Publisher : Religions, vol. 17, no. 3 (MDPI) -

English

2026

Emerging “Indigenous” Islam in Colombia: Conversions, Identity, and Community Challenges

Published in 2026 in the journal Religions (vol. 17, no. 3, MDPI, open access), this article by Baptiste Brodard, a researcher in the Pluriel network, examines the rise of conversions to Islam in Colombia.

Over the past few decades, “Indigenous” Latin American Muslims, whether converts or the descendants of converts, have become the majority in most of the country’s mosques and Islamic centres. The author analyses the range of motivations behind these conversions (spiritual quest, intellectual curiosity, relational and emotional factors) and the questions of identity and community life to which they give rise.

Paru en 2026 dans la revue Religions (vol. 17, n° 3, MDPI, open access), cet article de Baptiste Brodard, chercheur du réseau Pluriel, s’intéresse à l’essor des conversions à l’islam en Colombie.

Depuis quelques décennies, les musulmans « indigènes » latino-américains — convertis ou descendants de convertis — forment désormais la majorité dans la plupart des mosquées et centres islamiques du pays. L’auteur analyse la diversité des motivations de ces conversions (quête spirituelle, curiosité intellectuelle, facteurs relationnels et affectifs) et les défis identitaires et communautaires qui en découlent.

نُشرت عام 2026 في مجلة «Religions» (المجلد 17، العدد 3، دار MDPI، بنظام الوصول المفتوح) مقالةٌ للباحث بابتيست برودار تتناول تنامي حالات اعتناق الإسلام في كولومبيا.

فمنذ عقودٍ قليلة، بات المسلمون «المحلّيون» في أمريكا اللاتينية، من معتنِقين جُدد أو من أبناء المعتنِقين، يشكّلون الأكثرية في معظم مساجد البلاد ومراكزها الإسلامية. ويحلّل المؤلّف تنوّع دوافع هذا الاعتناق (البحث الروحي، والفضول الفكري، والعوامل العلائقية والعاطفية)، وما ينشأ عنه من تحدّياتٍ تمسّ الهوية والحياة المجتمعية.

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From Transnational Islamic Movements to Individual Religiosity: the Crisis of Religious Authority in Western European Muslim Communities

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Muslim Social Action in Europe: Community Engagement, Charitable Contribution, and Religious Activism in France, Switzerland, and Great Britain.

In France, as in other European countries, Muslim associations offer charitable services including the distribution of food parcels to low-income families, outreach to the homeless, academic suppor...

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Innovative social work practices by Islamic grassroots organizations in Switzerland

In Switzerland, specific issues related to Muslims have recently emerged in public debates. In addition to the question of radicalization, Muslim migrant populations are affected by social problems...

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A Response to Public Discourse? Intracultural Islamic Social Work in a Plural Society

As the public discourse on Islam is strongly influenced by the issue of radicalisation, the topic of prevention is gaining in importance and legitimacy. While the Swiss welfare state leaves little ...

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Islamic Reformist Thought in Western Europe: Zakat for Non-Muslims as an Illustration

Islamic reformism is an increasingly popular concept in Europe. However, it refers to distinct currents of thought. Baptiste Brodard proposes to explore a particular current of Islamic reformism th...

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Published in 2026 in the journal Religions (vol. 17, no. 3, MDPI, open access), this article by Baptiste Brodard, a researcher in the Pluriel network, examines the rise of conversions to Islam in C...