ISLAMABAD: The Ambassador of Brazil, Alfredo Leoni along with Rector National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Engr Muhammad Asghar inaugurated the photo exhibition “Islam in Brazil” here on Thursday at the NUST.

Brazil is known all around the world as a country that values its rich cultural diversity. Not many people know, however, that Islam also has a part on that cultural diversity and that there is a significant and vibrant Islamic community in Brazil. Thus, “Islam in Brazil”, a photo exhibition by Thomaz Napoleao and Helena Jornada, aims at showing Pakistanis a little known side of the Brazilian life and culture, that of its Muslim community.

Currently, estimates indicate that there are around 1.5 million Muslims in Brazil, spread all over the country’s territory. According to a census conducted by the Brazilian Institute for Geography and Statistics, the number of Muslims living in Brazil has risen by 29.1 percent between the years 2000 and 2010.

This community is formed by migrants from all over the Islamic world, including Pakistan, and also by a large number of Brazilians who have converted to Islam. The communities of Sao Paulo, Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre are portrayed in this exhibition, through pictures of their mosques and praying halls, as well as of the people and of architectural and cultural details.

These photos are excellent illustrations of the fusion of people and faith that is the Brazilian society, as well as of the respect for cultural and religious diversity existent in the country.

Alfredo Leoni said it was a great pleasure for the Embassy of Brazil in Islamabad to exhibit these photos because they not only illustrate an important aspect of Brazilian culture, but also show yet another commonality between Brazil and Pakistan. The exhibition will be displayed till Nov 28, at School of Art, Design and Architecture, NUST.—PR