PHNOM PENH – The Muslim World League (MWL) is hosting the ​Islamic Summit for the first time in Cambodia, with the theme “Islam-Buddhism”, to exchange culture in service of humanity. 

The summit in Phnom Penh on Feb. 27 aims to strengthen ties between faiths and share experiences in building a peaceful, cooperative, harmonious nation and religions. 

Othman Hassan, Senior Minister in Charge of the Special Mission on Cambodian Islamic Affairs and a member of the Supreme Council of the Muslim World League, said this meeting is essential to promote the policy of ethnic and religious harmony in Cambodia, which is a model for countries in the region and the world. 

He said the summit can make countries see Cambodia as a model which can provide full racial and religious harmony along with diversity of culture and tradition, while large and small countries haven’t achieved this yet. 

Hassan said he has attended many Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summits. The OIC has 52 member states with a population of nearly 2 billion. Islamic leaders from various countries have praised Cambodia and its leaders. 

“They have praised the country as a good example of harmony between religion and the state. Despite Muslims making up only 5 percent of the population, Buddhists 93 percent, and followers of other religions about 2 percent, Cambodia remains united through tolerance and mutual respect," Hassan said.

Prime Minister Hun Manet said Cambodia has a strong commitment to promoting religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence. He said Khmer-Islam people are Cambodian citizens who have the legal right to practice Islam while preserving their cultural identity.

The government has supported Khmer-Islam institutions and provided leadership roles for members of the Khmer-Islam community at national and regional levels. Since 2014, the government has also organized the Ramadan Ceremony for Muslims. 

The Prime Minister says he will attend the ceremony for the second time on March 24.

He said Khmer-Islam people were free to wear religious clothing at all levels of education and institutions. They are also allowed to take ID photos wearing religious attire for official documents. Prayer spaces are available at airports, public hospitals, factories, hotels and major markets.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government made exceptions for the Khmer-Islam community by allowing them to follow their religious tradition of burying the deceased instead of cremation.

Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, secretary-general of the Muslim World League and chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, said the MWL has worked hard to build strong relationships with leaders from different countries. 

He praised Cambodia for welcoming all religions, which is the same as the MWL's purpose, which is to end religious conflicts and promote mutual respect among people of different faiths.

The Islam-Buddhism Summit brought together 1,000 participants, including 200 foreign delegates from 40 countries, national and international guests, diplomats and 800 leaders of the Khmer-Islam community.

The summit covers five topics: religious harmony and peaceful coexistence: Cambodia’s experiences, culture exchange in the service of humanity, Islam and Buddhism: shared values and global challenges, countering extremism and violence, and citizenship and peaceful coexistence.