Cocos Islands - Muslim-populated island under Australia
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If you search carefully in the depths of the Indian Ocean on Google Maps, you will find a small island of 14 square kilometers, the population of the island is only 600. Surrounded by endless blue waters, there is no land around. It is like a dream island waking up in the ocean. Its name is Cocos Keling Islands.
This island is under the jurisdiction of Australia. The history of this indisputably beautiful archipelago is as diverse as its geographical location is amazing.
British naval officer William Keling was sailing from Indonesia for the East India Company. He saw this island on his way. Even in the 19th century, this island was empty of people. The colonial rulers were not very interested in this island.
Scottish Captain John Clunes Ross came to this island in the 18th century. English businessman Alexander Hay tried to settle the island with some Malo workers and women at the same time. Then the struggle for dominance began between the two Europeans. In the end, Clunes Ross won. He took control of the entire island. He built a huge coconut plantation. He brought workers from Indonesia and the Maldives to the island. The purpose was to trade in coconut oil. From this source, the island was named Cocos Keeling Island.
The family members of those workers are the inhabitants of this island today. Over time, their culture, language and Islamic traditions developed a unique identity.
The fate of Cocos Island changed when colonial rule fell around the world. In the middle of the 20th century.
Australia bought the island from the Scottish Ross family. Later, the United Nations held a referendum. In the referendum, the islanders voted in favor of remaining under Australia.
Why did the islanders make this decision? The reasons are: Australian citizenship, administrative protection, and the guarantee of maintaining their religious freedom. Since then, Cocos Island has been a remote area of Australia.
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