EMBASSY FREETOWN ORGANIZES SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY IFTAAR

UNCLAS FREETOWN 000613 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KISL KPAO SL SUBJECT: EMBASSY FREETOWN ORGANIZES SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY IFTAAR ¶1. On October 9 Embassy Freetown organized a successful Iftaar program at a new community Islamic and vocational school, the Umar Bin Alkhatab Institute for Vocational and Technical Training and Arabic Islamic Studies. The Ambassador and embassy staff attended the Iftaar and shared take-home meals with which the students could break their Ramadan fast at home. Copies of "Muslim Life in America," were also distributed to the nearly 200 students and staff who attended the event. Sheikh Abu Bakr Conteh, City Imam of the Freetown Municipality spoke at the ceremony to represent the school and the Sierra Leonean Muslim community. ¶2. After a recitation of a passage from the Qur'an by a student of the institute, Sheikh Conteh warmly welcomed the Ambassador and the Embassy delegation, noting with pride that the Ambassador had chosen to have her first public event at the Institute since presenting her credentials to President Koroma. In her address to the students, Ambassador Perry spoke about the importance of religious diversity and freedom, and praised Sierra Leone's own well known respect for religious tolerance. The students responded with appreciative surprise when she observed that Islam was the fastest growing religion in the U.S. In his subsequent comments, Sheikh Conteh emphasized the good relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims in both countries. In his view, the Embassy's efforts to meet the students and share the Iftaar meal helped contradict negative images of U.S. -Muslim relations. He added that this day would long be remembered as "American Fasting Day" in the school and the broader community. ¶3. Following the ceremony, Ambassador Perry gave the first meal to one of the growing number of female students of the institute and Embassy staff distributed the food and books. The students eagerly read the books as they lined up to receive their meal, and some took additional copies home to their family and friends. ¶4. The Umar Bin Alkhatab Institute for Vocational and Technical Training and Arabic Islamic Studies is located in one of the poorest sections of Freetown. It offers Islamic studies, computer literacy programs, tailoring, and some technical training to students aged 18 years and above. The proprietor of the school, Sheikh Sulaiman Kamara, studied in Saudi Arabia, as did the speaker and representative of the Muslim community, Sheikh Conteh. Sheikh Conteh is the City Imam of the Freetown Municipality, Vice President of the Sierra Leone Muslim Missionary Union, First Vice President of the Inter-Religious Council and Chief Imam of the Hamdallah Mosque. PERRY