Phnom Penh, Cambodia — A research delegation from the Faculty of Islamic Studies (FIS), Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII), recently conducted an intensive field study in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, exploring the political, social, and cultural dynamics of Muslim minority communities.

The research, coordinated by Dr. Faried F. Saenong and led by Dr. Zacky Khairul Umam, involved Syamsul Haq, an MA Islamic Studies alumnus, and Khaidir Hasram, a PhD student from the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Their work forms part of a flagship project titled “The Making of ‘Good’ Minority Muslims: Explaining Cambodian Minority Muslim Politics in Expanding Cambodia–Islamic World Relations.” The project was selected as a Flagship Research Awardee under UIII’s “Muslim World” theme by the Directorate of Research and Strategic Cooperation.

This interdisciplinary study investigates how Muslim minorities in Cambodia exercise agency within the country’s broader engagement with the Islamic world, while also examining leadership dynamics across Muslim-majority nations.

Over thirteen days in Phnom Penh, the team conducted extensive interviews with key Muslim figures, ranging from religious leaders and government officials to politicians, scholars, and community members.

Among those interviewed were Deputy Grand Mufti Ahmed Yama Arfath Phuchui of the Highest Council for Islamic Religious Affairs of Cambodia (HAICIR); H.E. Oknha Datuk Othsman Hassan, Senior Minister in Charge of Special Mission; H.E. Nos Sleh, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports; H.E. Katoeu Mohammad Nossry, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Tourism; and H.E. Mohammat Younes, Deputy Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism.

The research team also engaged with influential Muslim women leaders and policymakers, including Man Chinda, State Secretary at the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, and H.E. Man Navy, Member of the Royal Senate of Cambodia. The study further benefited from insights shared by Cambodian academics such as Dr. Farina So (University of Massachusetts) and Abu Kleb (PhD candidate, INALCO–France).

At the conclusion of the fieldwork, Syamsul Haq was invited to attend the annual event “Assalamualaikum Cambodia: A Safe, Warm, and Friendly Destination,” organized by the Ministry of Tourism and held on 9–11 October 2025 at Al-Serkal Mosque, Phnom Penh.

During the event, the researchers also conducted short interviews with ambassadors from Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, and Uzbekistan, focusing on Cambodia’s diplomatic relations with each country.

Beyond formal meetings, the research team immersed themselves in local community life, visiting and interacting with Cham Muslim communities in the Prek Pra and Kilometer 7 and 8 areas of Phnom Penh. These encounters provided valuable ethnographic insights into the lived experiences, resilience, and religious expressions of Cambodia’s Muslim minorities.