24/04/2013 – 20:20hs
Dubai opens tourism office in São Paulo
The emirate’s department in the sector will set up an office in the city of São Paulo. The objective is to double the number of Brazilians travelling to the region.
This quote comes from the Brazil-Arab News Agency.
From Nov 2011
The Free Port of Iquique is a commerical wonder.
But for a short while, the Free Port of Iquique caused a bit of a problem. When the heat was turned up on Hezbollah money laundering operations run by Lebanese Muslims in Paraguay, some moved on to Iquique.
They were not making weapons, but their money laundering was considered a bit of a problem. Iquique’s free port gave them the opportunity to hide and prosper.
Initially, since they were not violent, Chile did not care so much until the USA put pressure on Chile to act.
Chile acted.
Feds Call Chile Resort a Terror Hot Spot (Jewish Daily Forward)
By Marc Perelman
Published January 03, 2003,IQUIQUE, Chile — The Bush administration has designated this windswept resort town and free-trade zone on Chile’s northern Pacific coast as a terrorist hot spot, second in South America only to the notorious tri-border region where Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay meet.
Indeed, American and regional officials say, Iquique — pronounced “ee-KEE-kay” — a booming free-trade zone created 30 years ago in what was once a sleepy fishing village, may be poised to compete with the tri-border area as a center of terrorism financing and support.
The tri-border area, with its 30,000-strong Arab community and reputation for smuggling and money-laundering, has been monitored closely by intelligence agencies during the last decade, especially following the September 11 terrorist attacks. The stepped-up law enforcement has contributed to the exodus of terrorism suspects to Chile.
The surrounding area near Iquique is 15% Arab ethnically – three times the national average of 5% Arab for Chile. However, almost all Chilean Arabs are Christian. The Hezbollah operatives were Muslim.
However, they could blend in easily.
Things seem to have improved, recently, which is nice as Iquique is a world famous tropical resort as well as a commercial boom town.
Tuesday, April 23rd 2013 – 02:09 UTC
Argentina and Brazil private sectors team up to promote exports to Arab countries
With the intention of boosting exports to Arab nations, the Argentine and Brazilian chambers of commerce have established an Arab-South American Commerce Federation it was reported in Buenos Aires.
The aim is to increase both countries’ exports to the region after reaching a combined total revenue of 30 billion dollars last year, with six billion corresponding to Argentina.
This is really heating up. These regions are connected by blood as well as interests.
Published on YouTube: July 15, 2015
Certainly, a lot of the Blacks slaves which went to Brazil were Muslim when they first arrived; but after the Malê Revolt of the early 19th century (around 1835), the Brazilians totally crushed Islam in Brazil.
Fearing the example might be followed, the Brazilian authorities began to watch the malês very carefully and in subsequent years intensive efforts were made to force conversions to Catholicism and erase the popular memory and affection towards Islam. However, the African Muslim community was not erased overnight, and as late as 1910 it is estimated there were still some 100,000 African Muslims living in Brazil.
In effect, Islam was crushed.
In 2010, the Brazilian census reported only 35,167 Muslims. Most of there were of recent immigrant stock.
April 14, 2020 – Edited: Had to find a new source for the video.