New Delhi, March 29: Cambodia, the East Asian Buddhist country, hosted the annual Ramadan iftar in its capital, Phnom Penh. Over 6,000 people from various parts of the country attended, including a number of political and religious figures from Cambodia and Southeastern Asian countries and members of the diplomatic corps. Cambodia’s Prime Minister, Hun Manit, said his government is ensuring the protection of all religions in order to achieve progress, peace, and development in the country. He also stressed the importance of consolidating relations between the OIC and Cambodia.
During this celebration, the Cambodian Prime Minister stressed the government’s endeavor to ensure the protection of all religions in order to achieve progress, peace, and development, noting its appointment of many Muslim leaders in national institutions to support and empower the Cambodian Muslim community. He also touched on the freedoms enjoyed by members of the Muslim community and the support for building mosques and Islamic schools.
The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also participated in the ceremony hosted by the Cambodian Prime Minister on March 21 in the Prime Minister’s House’s sprawling hall.
On this occasion, OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha stressed that this celebration reflects Cambodia’s respect for the values of diversity, tolerance, and understanding, noting that its commitment to promoting peaceful integration, coexistence, and harmony among the various components of society is a source of inspiration for other countries to emulate.
Taha touched on the firm commitment of the OIC to contribute to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity throughout the world and its constant endeavor to build bridges of friendship, dialogue, and cooperation between different cultures and religions. He expressed the OIC’s keenness to work with Cambodia to strengthen the foundations of constructive dialogue and fruitful cooperation in areas of common interest.
His speech was delivered by Habib Boran, Director of Muslim Communities and Minorities in Non-Member States at the Department of Political Affairs.
