Phnom Penh - Cambodian Muslims must be integrated into the community and their religious restrictions and needs universally respected, Prime Minister Hun Sen said Thursday. Speaking at the inauguration of a new mosque, Hun Sen called for religious tolerance and acceptance of Muslims, who make up just a small percentage of the population but have been part of Cambodian culture for centuries.
"Some countries prohibit Muslim uniforms in schools. Cambodia allows it ... it is up to the individual," he said, in reference to headscarves sometimes worn by Muslim women.
He also demanded that Muslim prayer rooms be widely available, especially in places such as airports.
And he called on international media to be slower to blame Muslim groups when covering suspected terrorist attacks, alleging some major international news groups such as CNN appeared biased against Muslims in their coverage.
