Australian embassy extends best wishes for Ramadan

PHUKET: The Australian Ambassador to Thailand, James Wise, has issued a special message to all Muslim Australians, who will begin celebrating the holy month of Ramadan within the coming days.

Amb Wise echoed the Ramadan message by Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, issued in a statement on Friday, noting that Thailand’s Muslim community made a vibrant contribution to Thai society.

“Australia welcomes the opportunity to strengthen its broad and continuing bilateral cooperation with all segments of Thai society, including the Muslim community,” he said.

To that end, the Australian Ambassador looked forward to hosting an iftar (breaking the fast) ceremony with key representatives of the Muslim community during the holy month of Ramadan.

Foreign Minister Bishop extended her best wishes to Muslims throughout the world for the holy month of Ramadan.

“Australia’s Muslim citizens belong to over 60 ethnic groups, linking Australia to some 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide. These links underpin our friendly relations with Islamic nations,” said Ms Bishop.

“Ramadan offers a message of tolerance, compassion and hope – a universal message that everyone can share (Phuket Gazette Special Report here).

“Ramadan is a time for reflection, spiritual devotion and renewal. Muslim families around the world come together this month to celebrate their faith and their communities. By fasting, and through acts of charity, Muslims also remember those less fortunate than themselves.

“In Australia, this month is an opportunity for us to honor the important contribution our Muslim brothers and sisters make to our nation. Muslim Australians have helped build a more diverse, more productive and more prosperous country for us all.”

As Australian Muslims celebrate Ramadan, many will be thinking of relatives suffering displacement, unrest and conflict in the Middle East and elsewhere, Ms Bishop noted.

“My thoughts are with them, and I share their hopes for peace.”