Cambodia's 500,000 Cham Muslims live quietly alongside their neighbors in rural areas and urban centers from Battambang to Kampong Cham provinces. Most of them are descendants of the lost Champa empire, which had its seat in today's Vietnam, and are of the Sunni branch of Islam. The Chams have their own language and culture, a civilization within a nation. VOA Khmer presents an occasional series on one of Cambodia's often-forgotten cultures.
According to Din Nos’ traditions, the practice of Islam includes prayers for the dead and celebration of the birthday of Mohammad.
An estimated 500,000 Cambodian Muslims died under the Khmer Rouge, through overwork, starvation or execution.
Ly Sukei’s father was a well-educated Cambodian Muslim who died at the hands of the Khmer Rouge in 1975.
The Khmer Rouge forced the Chams to raise pigs and eat the pork, a deeply offensive act to the traditional Muslims.
The smaller Muslim sect, called Imam San, is the guardian of Cham scripts and culture.
Although Cambodia’s two sects of Islam practice the same religion quite differently, no clashes or mishaps have been reported.
In a wedding, the bride’s father pays a dowry and hands his daughter over to her groom.
In Cambodia, the group numbers nearly half a million, and most—but not all—are Muslim.
US President Barack Obama announced earlier this month an increase of 30,000 troops in Afghanistan.
The Hajj, which is held once a year in the holy city of Mecca, is the fifth obligation to be carried out by Muslims.
Chams in Cambodia have their own customs and traditions of marriage—though with a little less celebration.
Young women and girls are separated from their male classmates, in a bid to help them study.
In white clothes and Muslim caps, more than 700 students were set to begin classes at the Cambodian Islamic Center on Thursday.
Around 300 students in Phnom Penh are in universities.
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