Non-muslims told Amid ‘continued discrimination’: ‘Open your minds and understand us’

CEBU, Philippines -  A Cebu-based Muslim student leader has spoken on the prevalent issue of discrimination towards the Islam community, appealing to political aspirants to heed the concerns of the minority group now that the 2016 election is drawing near.

Jamil Faisal Adiong, the president of the Federation of the Muslim Students Association-Cebu, said discrimination on Muslims is still existent in the society and even on social media.

“We hope that candidates vying for different positions would not disregard the future of millions of Moros in the Philippines, on their promises and their would-be actions,” Adiong told The FREEMAN in an interview yesterday.

Adiong, a student of the University of San Carlos, has been living in Cebu City for almost a year and a half now. He was born in Cagayan de Oro and raised in Ditsaan-Ramain, a municipality in Lanao del Sur.

Filipino Muslims are still being stereotyped as angry and hostile people, said Adiong. He said people may not be candid on their treatment on Muslims but indirect actions show their prejudices.

“We may not see it but indirect actions show like how people look at us somehow really says something,” said Adiong.

To foster goodwill between the majority Christian Filipinos and the minority Muslim Filipinos, the national government declared Eidul Adha, which was marked on September 25 this year (yesterday), a national public holiday.

Celebrating the “Feast of the Sacrifice”, Adiong said, a person must give up his evil desires and personal interest and rather strengthen his faith to God (or Allah).

“As a Muslim and as a youth, we show our sacrifice by doing whatever it takes to show what a true Muslim is,” he said, also considering the special day as a family gathering among Muslims.

“We have to stand as one Muslim community even if stereotyping is still prevalent. We should be at our best in telling the people on who we are. It is our mission to educate the people about us,” he added.

He reminded that people should know and understand first before they judge and say something about them.

According to him, it is high time for people to recognize the Muslim community and be acquainted with them, and change their biased perception on them.

“We ask them that they would let us knock on their hearts to open their minds so that they may be able to know and understand us. This is one way for us to reconcile the century-old gap on cultural and religious indifference between Muslims and non-Muslims,” he said.

Adiong also did not miss in giving his stand on one of the pressing issues in the country – the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

“There have been a lot of versions now. As of now, we support the peace process. We support the BBL but a BBL that is CAB-based, not diluted,” said Adiong, referring to the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro. —/NSA (FREEMAN)