EMBASSY IFTAR REACHES CHAM COMMUNITY, ANSWERS QUESTION,

UNCLAS PHNOM PENH 000786 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/PD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KPAO KIRF EAID CB SUBJECT: EMBASSY IFTAR REACHES CHAM COMMUNITY, ANSWERS QUESTION, "ARE THERE MUSLIMS IN THE U.S.?" ¶1. SUMMARY: The Embassy hosted a successful Iftar for over 130 guests, mainly from the Cham Islamic minority in Cambodia. At the end of the event, while looking over the Muslim Life in America paper show that PA translated into Khmer, a teenage guest asked an Embassy staffer "are there really Muslims that live in the United States?", once again proving the value of these outreach efforts. END SUMMARY ¶2. Embassy Phnom Penh hosted an Iftar on the evening of September 18 for over 130 guests from the Cham community, Ambassadors from Brunei, Malaysia, Pakistan and Thailand and a number of Cambodian government officials including the Secretary of State for Cults and Religious Affairs H.E. Zakarayya Adam. The chief Mufti of Cambodia, Imam Sos Kamry, led the call to prayer. ¶3. Mr. Adam, an observant Muslim himself, delivered remarks thanking the Embassy not only for hosting the Iftar, but also for its outreach in general to the Islamic minority in Cambodia. He noted the meal would provide nourishment and also nutrients for friendship and trust among people who believe in Allah and those of other faiths. The Charge d'affaire's remarks praised the Cham for their openness and tolerance, and the Cambodian government for its sincere desire to integrate the community into society. The CDA also made a reference to some of the extremist organizations which currently provide a significant amount of funding to some of the smaller communities in the region. She stressed that assistance always comes with strings attached, whether they are visible or not, and that it is up to the leaders of the Cham communities to ask tough questions in order to ensure that when aid is offered it is offered with their constituents' best interests in mind. ¶4. After the meal a number of guests expressed their gratitude for the Iftars which the Embassy has been hosting since 2004. Visitors praised the Embassy's general outreach efforts to the community including ESL scholarships, Fulbright exchanges and speaker programs. A local Imam from Phnom Penh noted that many of the other Embassies which represent Muslim majority countries have taken our lead and have begun to host Iftar celebrations of their own. CAMPBELL