Cablegate: Embassy's Third Annual Iftar Reception

VZCZCXRO7369
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHAN #1016 2780319
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 050319Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0478
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 001016

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PARIS FOR D'ELIA
DEPT FOR AF/E MBEYZEROV

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM SOCI PREL PGOV MA
SUBJECT: Embassy's Third Annual Iftar Reception

1. The Ambassador and DCM hosted September 25 the Embassy's third
annual Iftar reception in Antananarivo. Friends and contacts from
Madagascar's diverse Muslim communities attended - Khoja, Sunni,
Bohra, and Ismailis -- again expressing their appreciation for our
hospitality. Interestingly, Madagascar's diverse Muslim groups
rarely interact with each other, so the Iftar serves both to bring
Muslim leaders together and into contact with the Embassy.

2. Although Muslims have a long history in Madagascar, they are
used to being tolerated at best and neglected at worst. As a whole,
including "foreigners" of Indo-Pakistani origin (some here for four
generations) and Malagasy, Muslims represent 10 percent of the
population. Our Iftar included the Comoran Ambassador, a Bohra
businessman who founded a major school, an Embassy expeditor, and a
Malagasy Imam with a theological degree from Cairo.

3. As in years past, attendees were surprised to hear in the DCM's
speech that President Bush hosts an annual Iftar at the White House.
Discussions at the tables often turned to curiosity about Muslim
life in the United States. Embassy officers emphasized American
values of tolerance and freedom of religion.

4. The Muslim's place in Malagasy society remains uncertain. Many
Muslims of Indo-Pakistani origin control vast amounts of wealth, yet
limit their investments in Madagascar because they lack legal status
or protection. Another topic of discussion was President
Ravalomanana's comments about wanting to create a "Christian state."
The April Constitutional Referendum removed explicit separation of
church and state, though no official religion was named.

MARQUARDT

© Scoop Media