Casa de los Árabes (The Arab House), Havana

The Arab House (Casa de los Árabes), located in Old Havana, serves as a unique cultural and religious landmark within the city's vibrant historical fabric. Despite the absence of a mosque in Havana and the Cuban state's restrictions on constructing new religious buildings, the Muslim community in Cuba finds a semblance of communal worship at the Arab House, especially for the weekly Friday Prayers.

The origins of the Arab House trace back to a wealthy Arab immigrant who settled in Cuba during the 1940s. The architecture of the house draws heavily from Andalusian design principles, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the Arab world. Over time, this house has been transformed into a multifaceted space that includes an Arabic museum and a restaurant, providing visitors with a glimpse into Arab culture and history.

Significantly, the Arab House holds a special place in the hearts of Muslim diplomats stationed in Cuba, as it is the designated venue for their Friday Prayers. This illustrates Cuba's selective support for international Muslim religious practices, contrasting with restrictions on local Muslims. Despite the generous contribution from the Arab part for the house's remodeling, access to these prayer services is exclusively reserved for non-Cuban Muslims, such as tourists and diplomats.

Moreover, the promise by former President Fidel Castro to build a mosque in Cuba, as reported by members of the Humanitarian Aid Foundation (İHH), adds another layer to the narrative of religious tolerance and its challenges within the country. While the promise remains unfulfilled, the Arab House stands as a poignant symbol of the Cuban Muslim community's resilience and the intricate web of cultural and religious interactions in Havana.