PORTUGAL ON ENGAGEMENT WITH MUSLIM COMMUNITY

UNCLAS LISBON 000020 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KISL KPAO PGOV PHUM SCUL SOCI XG PO SUBJECT: PORTUGAL ON ENGAGEMENT WITH MUSLIM COMMUNITY REF: STATE 127215 ¶1. In response to reftel request for information on Muslim communities, Portugal's Muslim community comprises approximately 50,000 members (less than 1% of Portugal's 11 million population), the majority of whom are of Indo-Pakistani descent as well as immigrants from Portugal's former African colonies of Mozambique and Guinea Bissau. The main mosque is located in Lisbon, with many "prayer rooms" throughout the country. Portugal's Muslims are not politically active as "Muslims" and keep a relatively low profile. ¶2. Embassy Lisbon maintains contact with the Muslim Community in Portugal through the community's leaders as well as several religious leaders. Embassy Lisbon maintains the same amount of involvement in Portugal's Muslim community as with the other religious communities in Portugal. We plan to continue our contact in the same manner through 2010 and do not require additional funding.