VZCZCXYZ0007
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHCO #0194/01 1331204
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 131204Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY COTONOU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0913
INFO RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1438
RUEAWJB/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS COTONOU 000194 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/PD (ANYASO, TITUS, LISENBY), PD/IIP (McMICHAEL), AF/W 
(ACOOK) 
PARIS FOR ARS (DWINTON) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KIRC SCUL OIIP KPAO BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: GPRA REPORT: SPEAKER PROGRAM ON ISLAM IN THE U.S. 
 
¶1. SUMMARY: From May 4-8, 2009 IIP Speaker Imam Moujahed Mouhammad 
Bakhach  delivered engaging and well-received lectures on Islam in 
the U.S. to highly appreciative Beninise audiences.  The speaker's 
program successfully encouraged open and honest debate on issues 
such as Islamic practices, non-violence in Islam, Women in Islam and 
interfaith dialogue. The discussion on these topics gave the 
positive message that Islam promotes full participation of women in 
civic and religious activities and non-violence. Imam Bakhach's 
excellent grasp of the subject and his open-mindedness further 
amplified the messages of dialogue, tolerance and unity that 
pervaded his entire program. END SUMMARY. 
 
 
¶2.  VENUES: On May 4, at the American Cultural Center, Imam Moujahed 
Mouhammad Bakhach spoke to more than 80 religious leaders, Muslim 
women, youth association members and journalists on the following 
topics: How is Islam practiced in the U.S.? What is the place and 
roleof women in Islam? How do Muslims in the U.S live with other 
religious denominations? What are the common issues and challenges 
Muslims face in the U.S? 
 
The Ambassador introduced the Imam in the context of President 
Barack Obama's overall vision of global promotion of dialogue, 
citing his example and intention that American diplomats serve on 
the front line of outreach to various communities, including to 
Muslims.  In that regard, she said that the U.S. Mission welcomed 
the opportunity to host the Imam as a means of outreach to the 
Muslim community of Benin and to promotion of mutual understanding 
generally between the United States of America and Benin.  The Imam 
stated that his aim in visiting Benin was to correct misconceptions 
about treatment of Muslims in America and explain the level of 
religious freedom Muslims enjoy in the U.S. in order to build a 
bridge of understanding between Muslims in the U.S. and in Benin. He 
pointed out that lack of knowledge about Islam is leading to 
misconceptions and stereotypes and judgments about Muslims in the 
world. He also noted that Muslims, themselves, bore some 
responsibility for the negative stereotypes because they had kept to 
themselves and did not, generally, participate in the broader civic 
society activities. 
 
Imam Bakhach noted that after the events of September 11, 2001, 
following his encouragement, Muslims in the Ft. Worth, Texas area 
began to volunteer for community service in order to improve their 
image. Imam Bakhach encouraged every Muslim to learn about the 
tenets of Islam in order to know the difference between cultural 
practices and Quranic teachings and then to learn about other 
religions in order to establish interfaith dialogue and unity. 
 
Imam Bakhach is an active member of the Interfaith Community in Ft. 
Worth, Texas and the Tarrant Area Community of Churches. He 
advocated the need for interfaith dialogue because it leads to 
mutual understanding, tolerance and peace and unity in the 
community. 
 
Beninese Imam Jalili Yessoufou, an IV alumnus who participated at 
the ACC conference, observed that there are at least 120 examples of 
interfaith dialogue mentioned in more than 1000 verses in the Quran. 
He stressed that, in fact, it is a divine command for Muslims to 
promote interfaith dialogue. 
 
Focusing on the role of women in Islam, Imam Bakhach cited the 
example of Khadidja, the Prophet Mohammed's wife, who was a business 
woman, a teacher, and a warrior,   to disprove misconceptions about 
women's role in the workforce. 
 
According to Islamist and local guest speaker El Hadj Afis Ambekema, 
women, who historically had suffered from abuses such as theft, rape 
and violence, were liberated by Islamic teachings. He opined that 
today, there is no excuse for denying women their right to 
existence, to education and to rights of legal inheritance. 
 
On May 5, the morning conference in the capitol city of Porto-Novo 
was followed by an afternoon viewing of the film entitled, "On 
Behalf of All Women." This USAID- sponsored film, aimed at combating 
sexual harassment in schools and at the workplace, was the perfect 
backdrop for Imam Bakhach to highlight women's role and rights as 
described in the Quran. He noted that women have the obligation to 
cover their head and the right to work, as well as to apply for 
divorce. 
 
On May 6, Imam Bakhach headed for the town of Parakou, six hours 
outside of Cotonou, in the North of Benin, and the following day he 
travelled to Djougou, two and a half hours distant. At least half of 
the population of Parakou is Muslim, whereas 95 % of the population 
of Djougou is Muslim. The audience of over 350 in Parakou and 
Djougou were unabashed in their criticism against U.S. foreign 
policy in Arabic countries especially Iraq, Palestine and 
Afghanistan.  Audience members asked, "Why is America ruling the 
world? Who makes America the police of the world?"  Imam Bakhach 
explained the U.S. values of democracy and justice and their 
willingness to help establish democracy and justice in the world, 
especially when its allies asked for their help. Such an explanation 
of American values of democracy gave the positive message that 
change was possible and reinforced the hopeful feeling engendered in 
the world by President Obama's election. The audience reacted 
favorably to his explanation and made prayers for President Barack 
Obama and asked Allah to give him good health and long life so that 
he can continue ruling and changing the world. 
 
In Djougou, Imam Bakhach, accompanied by the PAO the Cultural 
Affairs Assistant and Mohammed Adamou, an IV Alumnus, paid a 
courtesy call to the King and the Imam of Djougou. The week-long 
program on Islam ended on May 8, at the Central Mosque of Cadjehoun 
where Imam Bakhach was introduced to the audience by Imam Issiaka 
Ligali, an IV alumnus, who participated in the program on Islam in 
America in 2002. 
 
¶3. MPP UMBRELLA THEMES AND AUDIENCE REACHED: Promoting Human Rights, 
Education, and Mutual Understanding. 600 participants, including 
religious leaders, Islamists, Women and Youth associations, 
journalists, NGO members, students, alumni and other interested 
guests attended the activities that were covered by major media 
outlets including TV, radio and print media. Estimated audience 
reached: 3.5 million. Imam Bakhach participated in an interview on 
Golfe TV and two interviews on local radio stations in the North. 
 
¶4.  IMMEDIATE RESULTS /IMPACT: The program received very positive 
reviews from participants in all of the events. Participants 
approached the Imam after the conferences, especially in the Muslim 
North, noting how his remarks at the conference made them change 
their mind about the U.S. They also suggested arranging a Sister 
City partnership between the city of Djougou and Fort Worth, Texas. 
Only one woman attended the conferences in the north, but in Cotonou 
and Parakou, women especially appreciated learning more about their 
role and rights as Muslims. In addition to further reinforcing 
positive Beninese impressions of America, this program served as an 
important and favorable outreach to engaging Muslim audiences on key 
issues in our programming activities. 
 
¶5.  NON-USG SOURCES OF IN-COUNTRY FUNDING/IN KIND SUPPORT: Post 
appreciated the participation of Muslim IV alumni who helped 
organize the events in Cotonou and in the North. 
 
¶6.  QUALITY OF USG SUPPORT: Excellent. Imam Moujahed Mouhammad 
Bakhach is an engaging speaker who delivered his remarks both in 
Arabic as well as English. He knows his subject well and his 
personal character made him a big hit with each audience. His 
experience as an active member of his community and the interfaith 
community brought vivid examples to his communications. 
BROWN