DUSHANBE, May 18, 2010, Asia-Plus -- Mr. Rashad Hussain, Special Envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), and Ms. Nasreen Badat from the U.S. Office of International Religious Freedom have arrived in Dushanbe, according to the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe.

President Barack Obama appointed Mr. Hussain as Special Envoy to the OIC on February 13, 2010.  Mr. Rashad Hussain is attending the 37th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) that is opening here today.

As Special Envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Mr. Hussain seeks to deepen and expand the partnerships the United States has with Muslims around the world.  Mr. Hussain played a key role in developing and pursuing the “New Beginning” that President Obama outlined in his June 2009 address in Cairo, Egypt.

During his visit to Tajikistan, Mr. Hussain will meet with government officials, leaders of Muslim and other religious groups, and political leaders to discuss ways to strengthen mutual understanding between the United States and the Muslim world.

Ms. Nasreen Badat, from the U.S. Office of International Religious Freedom, is also attending the OIC Conference.  During her visit to Dushanbe, she will discuss religious freedom issues with government officials, Muslim leaders, and minority religious communities.