US embassy cable - 05PRAGUE1554

UNCLAS PRAGUE 001554 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EZ, KISL, KPAO, PREL 
SUBJECT: MUSLIM OUTREACH: US EMBASSY PRAGUE HOSTS FIRST 
RAMADAN IFTAR 
 
 
1. Summary. On October 25, Ambassador William Cabaniss hosted 
an Iftar dinner at his residence, the first-ever held by the 
Embassy.  Nearly fifty Muslim diplomats and business leaders 
attended, including Ambassadors from Algeria, Morocco, 
Tunisia, Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Yemen and Afghanistan. 
Noticeably absent from the Iftar were members of the Islamic 
Foundations in Prague and Brno, who had sent a letter 
explaining that they would not attend because of their 
dissatisfaction with US policy toward Muslim countries. 
While it would have been preferable that representatives of 
the Islamic Foundation attended, the invitation - and 
response - did open the possibility for future dialogue. End 
Summary. 
 
2. Egyptian Shaykh Karem El-Badawy, the head Imam in the 
Czech Republic, assisted in the preparations for the Iftar, 
even meeting with Ambassador Cabaniss prior to the event and 
providing prayer rugs and dates for the dinner itself. 
El-Badawy was not able to attend the actual event and lead 
the prayer, most likely due to pressure from the Islamic 
Foundation Committee. Instead, the Ambassador of Afghanistan 
offered the prayer to break the fast at sundown. Many in 
attendance were moved that the program included not only a 
taped recitation of the Koran, but also one-minute "Call to 
Prayer," which was provided by Shaykh El-Badawy. Many 
diplomats said that they looked forward to next year's Iftar 
as well. 
 
3. During his remarks, Ambassador Cabaniss expressed his 
Ramadan greeting and his hope that the iftar would be a 
beginning step toward better communication and understanding. 
The Ambassador of Afghanistan then gave his own impromptu 
remarks on the importance of dialogue, as well as the 
positive changes that are occurring in the Islamic world, 
including the rights of women in his own country. He 
expressed appreciation to the Ambassador for our effort to 
improve understanding of important Muslim traditions. 
 
 
4. Comment. We have already seen an increased openness in our 
relations with the Muslim community here as a result of our 
Iftar dinner.  The Ambassador has commented that Muslim 
Ambassadors with whom he had a more formal relationship now 
approach him at receptions and other events, and some of out 
attendees, such as representatives from Radio Free Europe 
Arabic and Afghan services have expressed interest in 
partnering with the Embassy on other Muslim outreach events. 
Even the organized Islamic community has thawed a bit; 
following the Iftar, Shaykh El-Badawy expressed his interest 
in inviting Ambassador Cabaniss to the Islamic Foundation in 
Prague Mosque for a tour and meeting with members of the 
mosque committee. It should be noted that El-Badawy works for 
the Egyptian Ministry of Awkaf and has been in the Czech 
Republic for the past two years, as the only trained Imam in 
the country. (Note: El-Badawy estimated that there are 
approximately 10,000 Muslims in the Czech Republic, but only 
about 500 regularly attend mosque services. He said that many 
Arabs moved to the Czech Republic in the 1970s and 1980s, 
particularly when the communist-government sponsored 
Palestinian rejectionist groups.  However, he lamented that 
the majority of Arabs who have been living in the Czech 
Republic for a number of years, and who have married Czechs, 
are secular and don't have a connection with the mosque.) In 
addition to taking Shaykh El-Badawy up on his invitation, and 
arranging a meeting to discuss the Islamic Foundation's 
concerns, Embassy Prague plans on  holding another Iftar next 
year, as well as other cultural events in order to improve 
communication between the embassy and Czech Muslim community. 
End Comment. 
CABANISS