IMAM YAHYA HENDI BUILDS BRIDGES TO BANGLADESHI MUSLIMS

UNCLAS DHAKA 004910

SIPDIS

FOR SA/PPD (LSCHWARTZ, LKUYUMCU); IIP/G/NEASA (TSCOTT); IIP/T/SV
(PBENDA)

E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: OIIP PREL KPAO BG
SUBJECT: IMAM YAHYA HENDI BUILDS BRIDGES TO BANGLADESHI MUSLIMS


1. Summary: Visiting Bangladesh on the Speakers Program September
22-27, Imam Yahya Hendi addressed thousands of Bangladeshis -
from students to ministers -- about Islam in America and the role
of women in Islam at mosques, madrassas and other fora. He was
exceptionally well received and effective in dispelling common
misperceptions about the U.S. End Summary.


2. Hendi lectured on the role of women in Islam at Dhaka
University and at events organized by the Bangladesh National
Women's Lawyers Association (BNWLA) in Dhaka and Chittagong. He
spoke on Islam in America at the Sobhanbagh madrassa and before
Friday prayers at the Sobhanbagh mosque in Dhaka; the Harbang
Dakhil madrassa and the Chawkaria Imam Association in southern
Bangladesh; at a meeting with madrassa students who have received
ACCESS micro-scholarships to study English; at Dhaka University;
and the Bangladesh Institute of Islamic Thought. He also gave
interviews to ATN Bangla, a local television station, and to
Jugantor and Naya Diganta newspapers.


3. Hendi traced the history of Islam in America back 700 years,
but said that it is only in the last few decades that Muslims
have integrated into American life by building institutions. He
noted the individual success of many American Muslims and the
respect they receive from neighbors and peers. Hendi described
common doctrinal themes that Islam shares with Christianity,
Judaism, and even Buddhism, and argued that cooperation with non-
Muslims to improve society is consistent with Islamic history and
theology.


4. Hendi forcefully explained that Islam empowers women. He
cited Islamic history and theology to demonstrate that women have
an important and respected role within Islam, and that historical
practice shows that the Koran and the hadiths should be
interpreted in a contemporary context. Women activists thanked
him for giving them authoritative backing for their similar
arguments on these points. After his meeting with the Access
students, 14 girls stayed for another hour to discuss issues like
whether Islam required them to cover their faces. Hendi noted
that face-covering is a cultural, not religious, issue, and that
some, but not all, of the Prophet Muhammad's wives covered their
faces.


5. Hendi praised Bangladesh's social and economic development
since independence in 1971, noting, for example, that both the
Prime Minister and leader of the opposition here are women. He
also spoke out against extremism, saying that Islam is a freely
chosen faith that cannot be forced on anyone.


6. His varied audiences raised the situation in Iraq and
Afghanistan; the widespread urban legend here that no Jews died
in the 9/11 attacks and that therefore the attacks must have been
a Jewish conspiracy; discrimination against Muslims in America;
and the suggestion that Hurricane Katrina might be divine
retribution against the U.S.


7. In response, Hendi noted the overwhelming evidence that Osama
Bin Laden was behind the 9/11 attacks and that they killed people
of all faiths, and that the war in Afghanistan was a justified
response. He recalled that he had personally attended the
funerals of five Jews who died on September 11. Regarding
discrimination, Hendi stated that both he and his hijab-wearing
wife find American society open to all people. He acknowledged
isolated problems, but explained that harassment is not tolerated
by society in general. He described Hurricane Katrina as a
natural disaster, and pointed out that last December many Muslims
were also victims of a natural disaster when the Asian tsunami
occurred.


8. Hendi's credibility was greatly enhanced by his knowledge of
Arabic, the Koran, and Islamic history. He was warmly and
respectfully received by all audiences. At the Sobhanbagh
Mosque, his audience of up to 3,000 persons spilled out on to the
street, where they listened by loudspeaker, and included at least
six cabinet ministers and ten very senior civil servants. The
mosque's imam, who had reluctantly agreed to Hendi's appearance,
subsequently told him that although he had previously considered
America to be his enemy, he had learned from Hendi and would note
this in his sermons in the weeks to come.

Chammas