The Grand Imam Dr. Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, Sheikh Al-Azhar, met with H.E. Sman Maran, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Cambodia to Egypt. The Cambodian ambassador informed the Grand Imam of the state of Muslims in his nation, emphasizing that Muslims in Cambodia enjoy their rights and duties of citizenship, and many of them hold leading positions in the country. Moreover, there is an institution for Islamic affairs headed by the grand mufti, who has the right of appointing imams of mosques, muftis, and Muslim teachers.
H.E. the ambassador emphasized that the Cambodian government states the full rights of Muslim citizens in Cambodia in building mosques and in freedom of worship practices. Ambassador Maran pointed out that the number of Cambodian Muslims is one million out of a total population of fifteen million.
On his part, the Grand Imam extended thanks to the government of Cambodia for the care and attention given to Muslim citizens. His eminence was also pleased of their participation in the development process of the nation and in holding several positions on levels of ministers, deputy ministers and in various fields.
His eminence emphasized the strong keenness of Al-Azhar on offering full support to Muslims in Cambodia to be an active force in the progress and prosperity of the country. His eminence added that Al-Azhar is ready to grant further scholarships to Cambodian students at the faculties of Al-Azhar, in addition to arranging training programs for Cambodian graduates of Al-Azhar in order to prepare them later on to train Cambodian imams on dealing with various current issues.