Muslim council bans gatherings during Ramadan
Muslim council bans gatherings during Ramadan
Muslim council bans gatherings during Ramadan
The Highest Council for Islamic Religious Affairs in Cambodia yesterday decided to ban gatherings during the Ramadan fasting month to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the Kingdom.
Speaking at a press conference, Othsman Hassan, Cambodian Muslim Development Foundation president, appealed to all Cambodian-Muslims to follow the government’s instruction on avoiding gatherings and the Health Ministry’s guidelines on preventing the spread of the virus.“Breaking fast during the Ramadan month every evening should be done at home and not in public. They are also forbidden from congregating in mosques for prayers and breaking fast,” he said. “I believe that all Cambodian-Muslims will understand that under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Sen, the government’s virus response is aimed at ensuring the safety of all Cambodians.”
Mr. Othsman noted that Saudi Arabia has announced all religious activities should be done at individual homes and not in mosques.
He said that the council had planned to host a national- level dinner to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr at the end of the fasting month with Mr. Hun Sen and Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen, secretary-general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, as guests-of-honor but it has been canceled over the coronavirus. Mr. Othsman said the National Ramadan dinner was to be held on April 29.
“Samdech [Hun Sen] has not just canceled the ceremony of Cambodian-Muslims but also all mass gatherings in Cambodia to ensure safety and prevent the spread of COVID-19,” he said.
Every year, Mr. Hun Sen participates in the Ramadan dinner with Cambodian Muslims to show unity with the Muslim community.
Mr. Othsman also thanked the government for paying attention in treating and curing Cambodian-Muslim patients who were infected when they attended a religious gathering in Malaysia. He said that 23 out of the 79 Cambodian-Muslims who attended the gathering tested positive for COVID-19 and spread it to eight family members.
“Almost all our Cambodian-Muslims have recovered and there is only one left who is receiving treatment,” Mr. Othsman said. “He is elderly and has diabetes and high blood pressure.”
Mr. Othsman also said the public has stopped discriminating against Cambodian-Muslims who had been targeted online after the 23 returnees tested positive.
He said there are 780,000 Cambodian-Muslims in the Kingdom.
On the plight of 149 Cambodian-Muslims who remain stranded in Malaysia, Mr. Othsman declined to comment on the issue.
“As you know, the prime minister asked them to stay there in order to prevent the spread of the virus,” he said. “Our embassy in Malaysia is paying attention to look after them.”
Koy Kuong, a spokesman for the Foreign Affairs Ministry, said yesterday the 149 stranded Cambodians are being cared for by the embassy in Malaysia.
“Their situation is normal. Our embassy closely cooperates with Malaysian authorities to look after them,” he said. “So far, none of them have been infected by COVID-19.”
The Cambodian embassy in Malaysia said yesterday it has appealed to some of the stranded citizens to provide details of their stay, including photocopies of passports, addresses, and phone numbers so that it can contact them and provide consular assistance when necessary.
“Among the 149, only 57 people have so far provided their information to the embassy.
They include students, tourists and long-term residents,” an official said. “Upon their request, we have delivered food kits and necessary assistance to 14 people and continue to do the same upon their request on a case by case basis.”
It said that according to Malaysian Airlines, the 149 passengers were unable to fly to Cambodia on April 7 after Mr. Hun Sen requested them to stay put in Malaysia.
Math Sles, 84, a Cambodian-Muslim community leader in the capital’s Chbar Ampov district said yesterday he supports the prohibition of mass gatherings and prayers at mosques during the Ramadan month.
“We support the government’s measure 100 percent to participate in preventing the spread of the virus,” he said. “Mosque at my commune are closed and do not allow anyone to enter to pray since the government issued its announcement.” Khmer Times
