How Mexican society views the marriage of a Christian woman to a Muslim man; whether the couple and their children would have problems with employment, housing, and civil status (August-October 2004) [MEX43037.E]

In addition to the information provided in ZZZ42895.E of 30 August 2004 about the treatment of individuals in mixed marriages, particularly between an adult male Muslim with Iranian citizenship and an adult female Catholic of Mexican citizenship, the International Religious Freedom Report 2004 noted that in March 2003, the National Human Rights Commission (Comision Nacional de Derechos Humanos, CNDH) began an inquiry into allegations that adherents of Islam had been victims of discrimination in the vicinity of San Cristobal de las Casas in Chiapas (15 Sept. 2004, Sec. III). The CNDH head concluded that recent converts to Islam were being harassed and "attributed the harassment in part to reaction to increased Muslim proselytising" (International Religious Freedom Report 2004 15 Sept. 2004, Sec. III).

In addition, the Associated Press reported in June 2004 that a private Islamic school in San Cristobal de las Casas was struggling to obtain official certification from authorities (21 June 2004). Moreover, while a spokesperson of the Muslim community in San Cristobal de las Casas claimed that the multiethnic and multi-lingual school was an "example of tolerance and diversity," the spokesperson also mentioned that the school "bothers some people" in the community (AP 21 June 2004).

No information on whether individuals in mixed marriages would have problems with employment, housing, and civil could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

For background information about Muslims in Mexico, please see MEX38248.E of 28 February 2002 on radical Islamic preachers in Mexico City and Chiapas, and MEX38246.E of 28 February 2002 on Muslims in Mexico City.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References


Associated Press (AP). 21 June 2004. Mark Stevenson. "In Mexican State, Catholic-Protestant Conflict Over Schools." (Dialog)

International Relgious Freedom Report 2004. 15 September 2004. "Mexico." United States Department of State. Washington, DC. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2004/35546pf.htm [Accessed 28 Sept. 2004]

Additional Sources Consulted


Internet sites, including: Centro de Derechos Humanos Miguel Agustin Pro Juarez (PRODH), Comision Mexicana de Defensa y Promocion de los Derechos Humanos, European Country of Origin Infromation Network (ECOI), Liga Mexicana por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos (LIMEDDH), World News Connection/Dialog.

Associated documents