US embassy cable - 05DHAKA4910

UNCLAS DHAKA 004910 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR SA/PPD (LSCHWARTZ, LKUYUMCU); IIP/G/NEASA (TSCOTT); IIP/T/SV 
(PBENDA) 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, PREL, KPAO, BG 
SUBJECT:  IMAM YAHYA HENDI BUILDS BRIDGES TO BANGLADESHI MUSLIMS 
 
1. Summary: Visiting Bangladesh on the Speakers Program September 
22-27, Imam Yahya Hendi addressed thousands of Bangladeshis - 
from students to ministers -- about Islam in America and the role 
of women in Islam at mosques, madrassas and other fora.  He was 
exceptionally well received and effective in dispelling common 
misperceptions about the U.S.  End Summary. 
 
2.  Hendi lectured on the role of women in Islam at Dhaka 
University and at events organized by the Bangladesh National 
Women's Lawyers Association (BNWLA) in Dhaka and Chittagong.  He 
spoke on Islam in America at the Sobhanbagh madrassa and before 
Friday prayers at the Sobhanbagh mosque in Dhaka; the Harbang 
Dakhil madrassa and the Chawkaria Imam Association in southern 
Bangladesh; at a meeting with madrassa students who have received 
ACCESS micro-scholarships to study English; at Dhaka University; 
and the Bangladesh Institute of Islamic Thought.  He also gave 
interviews to ATN Bangla, a local television station, and to 
Jugantor and Naya Diganta newspapers. 
 
3.  Hendi traced the history of Islam in America back 700 years, 
but said that it is only in the last few decades that Muslims 
have integrated into American life by building institutions.  He 
noted the individual success of many American Muslims and the 
respect they receive from neighbors and peers.  Hendi described 
common doctrinal themes that Islam shares with Christianity, 
Judaism, and even Buddhism, and argued that cooperation with non- 
Muslims to improve society is consistent with Islamic history and 
theology. 
 
4.  Hendi forcefully explained that Islam empowers women.  He 
cited Islamic history and theology to demonstrate that women have 
an important and respected role within Islam, and that historical 
practice shows that the Koran and the hadiths should be 
interpreted in a contemporary context.  Women activists thanked 
him for giving them authoritative backing for their similar 
arguments on these points.  After his meeting with the Access 
students, 14 girls stayed for another hour to discuss issues like 
whether Islam required them to cover their faces.  Hendi noted 
that face-covering is a cultural, not religious, issue, and that 
some, but not all, of the Prophet Muhammad's wives covered their 
faces. 
 
5.   Hendi praised Bangladesh's social and economic development 
since independence in 1971, noting, for example, that both the 
Prime Minister and leader of the opposition here are women.  He 
also spoke out against extremism, saying that Islam is a freely 
chosen faith that cannot be forced on anyone. 
 
6.   His varied audiences raised the situation in Iraq and 
Afghanistan; the widespread urban legend here that no Jews died 
in the 9/11 attacks and that therefore the attacks must have been 
a Jewish conspiracy; discrimination against Muslims in America; 
and the suggestion that Hurricane Katrina might be divine 
retribution against the U.S. 
 
7.  In response, Hendi noted the overwhelming evidence that Osama 
Bin Laden was behind the 9/11 attacks and that they killed people 
of all faiths, and that the war in Afghanistan was a justified 
response.  He recalled that he had personally attended the 
funerals of five Jews who died on September 11.  Regarding 
discrimination, Hendi stated that both he and his hijab-wearing 
wife find American society open to all people.  He acknowledged 
isolated problems, but explained that harassment is not tolerated 
by society in general.  He described Hurricane Katrina as a 
natural disaster, and pointed out that last December many Muslims 
were also victims of a natural disaster when the Asian tsunami 
occurred. 
 
8.   Hendi's credibility was greatly enhanced by his knowledge of 
Arabic, the Koran, and Islamic history.  He was warmly and 
respectfully received by all audiences.  At the Sobhanbagh 
Mosque, his audience of up to 3,000 persons spilled out on to the 
street, where they listened by loudspeaker, and included at least 
six cabinet ministers and ten very senior civil servants.  The 
mosque's imam, who had reluctantly agreed to Hendi's appearance, 
subsequently told him that although he had previously considered 
America to be his enemy, he had learned from Hendi and would note 
this in his sermons in the weeks to come. 
 
Chammas