Br Imron Sohsan, from Thailand, a participant of Fourth International Imam held in 2000, is one of the most active da’wah worker who committed himself not in Bangkok or southern Thailand where a large number of can be found, but in the area where is unknown to local population, the Northeastern Region known in Thailand as Isarn. The Isarn region covers 19 poverty-stricken provinces with a total of around 22 million populations, one third of the whole kingdom’s population.

During 1970s and 1980s, Islam was still unknown in the region and thus very few Muslims from other parts of the country made their visit to the area. It was hard to find a Muslim restaurant or halal food stall and even a to pray, but not until 1990s, when Muslims started to pay serious attention to the problem. Prior to this, a group known as Jamiat tabliq had preached Islam around the area.

Br Imron, 34, born Muslim from a southern province of Surat Thani, has played a significant role along with a group of local Muslim academicians led by Professor Dr Preeda Prapertchob of who later on set up an Islamic body known as Foundation for Education and Development for the Northeastern Region (FEDMIN) back in 1995.

Since then, FEDMIN became a platform for da’wah movement in the region when a group of Muslim scholars, politicians and students joined hands to launch da’wah activities. Summer camps, meetings and religious classes were held frequently. Located in Udorn Thani province, FEDMIN has become a centre for Islamic activities under the leadership of Dr Preeda Prapertchob as its President and Br Imron Sohsan as the .

FEDMIN’s main focus is to provide education and community development to the locals. Classes on various subjects were held at its office to assist local students. Food and accommodation is provided for students who came from far-flung areas.  In order to attract more youth into the Islamic ambience, a youth centre, known as Udorn Thani Muslim Youth Centre was set up at the FEDMIN. It became a central point for education and social gatherings for Muslims as well as non-Muslims. FEDMIN simple approach is “let non-Muslims know more about Islam by showing them Islamic way of life with universal values of love, kindness, caring and mutual understandings between human being instead of persuading them to embrace Islam without understanding these basic practices”. It is to create Islamic environment when love, confidence and peace can be found. Muslims in Thailand have been accused as extremists, mainly due to the conflict in the south.

It is interesting to note that FEDMIN is an Islamic organization rendering any kinds of assistance to not only Muslims but also non-Muslims in the area. Most of its activities were attended by youths regardless of their faith or ethnic background. Tuition classes for school children particularly in science and English language subjects are held from time to time at the centre to assist poor students. Transportations were also provided.  Dr Preeda Prapertchob, FEDMIN’s President said that “when non-Muslim organizations  could provide any necessary assistance to ease the local burdens, then no reason why Muslim’s failed to do so”, he added “it is important to improve our own weakness particularly the attitudes and mentality of Muslims, we have to be really committed, responsible and sincere in dealing with our da’wah works”.

According to Br Imron, it is a great challenge for us to preach Islam to those who have never heard of it, especially to invite them to join the activities, however, through our hard work and dedication with full of patience, something is changing down there now.  More mosques have been erected, around 30 of them, while a number of Muslim populations has been increasing. More Muslim visitors from other parts of the country emerged in the region, Alhamdullilah.

Besides his involvement in FEDMIN, Br Imron also takes active part in various student organizations in Thailand such as Muslim Student Society at Khon Kaen University (KKU) where he graduated his master degree, the Northeastern Muslim Students Networks and Muslim Students’ Club at Prince of Songkhla University (PSU) in Pattani.

Besides, Br Imron is also the Khatib of Al_Mubarak Mosque and executive committee member of Santitrham Wittaya Islamic School in Udorn Thani. He is also a columnist for several Islamic newspapers and wrote a book titled Nur-Iman: A land of Faith and Muslim Identity in Pluralistic Society in Isarn Region.

Br Imron enrolled at Prince of Songkhla University in Pattani in 1997, where he graduated his BA in Arabic and Islamic Studies in 2000. In 2007, he went to continue his post graduate studies at Khon Kaen University where he earned a Master Degree in Development Sociology Programme. Currently, he is a post graduate student in the Conflict Analysis and Management at Royal Roads University, Victoria, Canada.  He added that RISEAP Islamic course was a source of inspiration for his involvement in da’wah work till today.