Public Project
RELIGIOUS MINORITIES IN CUBA
6,450
RELIGIOUS MINORITIES IN CUBA
Location: Tolosa
Nationality: Spanish
Covering:
Africa,
Asia,
Latin America,
Middle East,
RELIGIOUS MINORITIES IN CUBA
After the Cuban Revolution in 1959, religious practices on the island nation were targeted, but the Cuban government later opted for a more conciliatory approach, and the country today hosts a variety of diverse religions. Some Cubans believe that the country's late president Fidel Castro, was responsible for this religious unity, while others will never forget the years of persecution they endured.A year after Castro's death, I visited the Cuban capital, Havana, to explore how different religious communities are living side by side.
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© 2024 URA ITURRALDE
Aminah, born and raised in Cuba, converted to Islam many years ago. She is one of the few women on the island who wears a niqab.
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© 2024 URA ITURRALDE
Fidel Babani is a historian in the Beth Shalom synagogue in Havana. In recent years, even Fidel Castro joined in the Jewish community’s celebrations.
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Michel and hispupil praying in Zen dojo buddhist center of Havana.
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One of the fathers of the Greek Orthodox Church recites his prayers. The community of this church has grown in recent years
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Unique Minarete, the only one in Cuba, is located in Abdallah Mosque.
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The Beth Shalom synagogue, located in the centre of the Cuban capital, was built in 1952.
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As a symbolic monument to the Cuban-Russian friendship, the Russian Orthodox Church Nuestra Senora de Kazan was inaugurated in 2008.
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The Greek Orthodox Church of Cuba is located near the boardwalk of Havana.
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The Abdallah Mosque was inaugurated in July 2015, and Muslims in Havana have access to Spanish editions of the Quran.
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Yacob is the spiritual guide of the only Orthodox synagogue in Cuba, Adath Israel.
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Michel with one of his pupils in Zen dojo centre of Havana.
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A liturgy is performed in the Greek Orthodox Church in Havana.
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The Muslim community is growing in Cuba, with about 9,000 Muslims on the island today.
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Yacob of Adath Israel reads the Torah. Daily religious services are held here.
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The Torah.
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Michel, who was ordained as a Zen monk, is in charge of the Zen dojo in the centre of Havana.
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Yacob’s wife works in the office in Adath Israel.
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This man, who converted to Islam several years ago, shows his collection of stamps of Che Guevara.
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Buddhist monk praying.
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Buddhist center of La Havana.
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© 2024 URA ITURRALDE
A security guard keeps watch in the area of the Abdallah Mosque 24 hours a day.
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