AKP Phnom Penh, February 24, 2026 --

Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, President of the Senate, has called on Cambodian artists and performers to exercise greater care in their gestures and choice of words, noting that these can affect the feelings, culture, and traditions of different communities.

In a social media post on Tuesday morning, Samdech Techo said that he had shared a message at dawn the previous night regarding a Bok Leak—a traditional Khmer ceremony performed during weddings which features Cambodian Muslim actors.

Based on feedback from members of the Cambodian Muslim community, he noted that they did not object to the participation of Cambodian Muslims in the performance itself. Rather, their concern stemmed from elements in certain performances that were perceived as showing a lack of respect toward the God of Islam, which prompted public reaction.

“This is something that all performing groups must review and correct, both in terms of gestures and wording,” Samdech Techo underlined.

He explained that Muslims around the world hold Allah in the highest reverence, and that any performance perceived as offensive is unacceptable. The issue, he said, arose from a lack of understanding on the part of the actors or the performing troupe, and therefore requires immediate correction to ensure respect toward Muslim communities in both language and conduct.

Samdech Techo concluded his message by expressing his hope that the spirit of solidarity and harmony among different races and religions in Cambodia will continue to grow.

The Bok Leak ceremony, also known regionally as "Thver Thminh" or "Thver Thminh Bompenh Leak," is a symbolic ritual representing the various tastes – sweet, bitter, sour, pungent, and salty – of married life. Traditionally, it involves the participation of family and friends across different backgrounds and is sometimes performed with artistic depictions of a journey to obtain the ceremonial ingredients.

(Photo supplied)

By Heng Panha