Arab-American Imam Discusses Muslim Life in America with Thai Muslims

Arab-American Imam Discusses Muslim Life in America with Thai Muslims

Imam Dr. Mohamad Bashar Arafat spent March 3-7, 2008, in Thailand reaching out to Thai Muslim audiences in Bangkok and four provinces in the south.  Through presentations and discussions, Imam Arafat brought an Arab-American perspective to his interactions.  Imam Arafat discussed how Islam and other faiths can live peacefully together in a multicultural society; described the normalcy and opportunities, as well as the challenges, of Muslim life in America; and stressed the importance of religious freedom, multiculturalism, ethnic and cultural diversity.  During his five-day visit, Imam Arafat, accompanied by the Counselor for Public Affairs Anne Casper and Cultural Affairs Officer Ken Foster, reached out to Thai Muslim religious leaders, Provincial Islamic Councils, Muslim academics, International Visitor Leadership Program alumni, media, and students at several public and Islamic universities and schools. On his last day in Thailand, Imam Arafat attended Friday prayers at the Central Mosque of Bangkok, an opportunity that allowed the Imam to introduce Muslim life in America to the large audience that remained afterwards to hear his presentation.