Small but mighty: Colombia’s Muslim community celebrates Ramadan

Colombia's small Muslim community, comprising less than 0.2 percent of the country's predominantly Catholic population, celebrated Ramadan in February 2026 with diverse traditions and growing visibility across cities like Medellin and Bogota. Despite representing a tiny fraction of Colombia's 50 million people, with approximately 85,000 to 100,000 Muslims nationwide, the community exhibits remarkable diversity. This includes both descendants of historical migrants—particularly those who arrived during Lebanon's civil war in the 1970s—and Colombian converts to Islam. In Medellin's Poblado neighborhood, 14-year-old Ziauddin Yahya Iqbal Sandoval observes Ramadan with quiet conviction, representing the younger generation of Colombian Muslims born and raised in this predominantly Christian society. The community's diversity is celebrated as a strength, with imam Mu'tasem Abdo noting how newcomers from various Muslim countries bring their unique traditions to Colombia's Islamic centers. The Muslim presence in Colombia has evolved significantly over recent decades, marked by increased visibility and institutional growth. Rana Arif Mohammad, a Pakistani immigrant who arrived 23 years ago, recalls initially struggling to find fellow Muslims and places of worship. Today, however, Medellin boasts five mosques, and in 2020, Colombia elected its first Muslim mayor in the border city of Maicao. The community has established Islamic cultural centers and places of worship that serve as gathering points for Muslims from various backgrounds, including those from Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Pakistan, and Arab countries. These spaces have become crucial for maintaining religious and cultural identity while integrating into Colombian society. Despite the challenges of maintaining cohesion among such diverse backgrounds, Colombian Muslims have found ways to embrace their differences during Ramadan. Sheikh Ahmad Qurtubi of Bogota's Qurtubi Islamic Center explained how different families volunteer to prepare Iftar meals representing their cultural backgrounds—Moroccan, Pakistani, Colombian, and more. This diversity in practice has created a unique Colombian Muslim identity that celebrates both universal Islamic traditions and local cultural expressions. Community leaders emphasize that knowledge and shared understanding allow their community to flourish and put down roots in Colombia, contributing to the country's rich multicultural fabric while maintaining their religious convictions.