IDENTIDADES 1 ENGLISH IDENTIDADES 9 ENGLISH | Page 118

"The State recognizes, respects and
guarantees religious freedom. In the
Republic of Cuba, religious institutions
are separate from the State. The
different beliefs and religions enjoy
equal consideration." The article 54 was
reformulated as Article 55 without its
prior reference to the education of the
people based on the scientific
materialist conception of the universe. It
also specified that the State “recognizes,
respects and guarantees” freedom of
conscience and religion, as well as the
freedom of every citizen to change her
or his religious beliefs, to abstain from
any, and to profess the worship of
choice in compliance with the law.”
By 2002, the mentioned Muslim group
was socially recognized; in 2007, the
recognition became legal: The Ministry
of Justice granted by resolution the legal
status to the Islamic League of Cuba
(Spanish acronym LIC). Its main goal is
the unity of all Muslims, both Cubans
and foreigners, who practice Islam in
Cuba.
For fulfilling this purpose, the LIC
organizes the festivities Eid al-Fitr and

Eid al-Adha. It also promotes meetings
during Ramadan, in which Muslims,
guests from other religious
denominations and representatives from
other institutions, even from the
government, take part. The LIC takes
advantage of crucial events in the
Islamic calendar —the night journey
and ascension to heaven of Prophet
Muhammad, as well as his birthday—to
summon Muslims and others interested
in a deeper knowledge of Islam.
LIC is so far the only institution of its
kind recognized by the Cuban
government. It brings together some
200 people and its governing body
(Assembly of Members) annually
meets. Per its corporate statutes, the
assembly elected —every 5 years— a
council of 11 members who are
responsible
for
reviewing
the
compliance with the agreements. It
furtherly elects the President of LIC.
The currently in office is Imam Yahya
Pedro Lazo Torres, who in 2014 made
the pilgrimage to Mecca with four other
LIC members.

The sacred Kaaba, photographed by Cuban Muslims on Tuesday,
September 30, 2014, at 11: 50 pm.

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