In light of the Muslim people’s observance of the Eid’l Adha on November 27, Suara Bangsamoro and Kawagib Moro Human Rights appeal to the Ustadz, Imam and the Ulama to devote their sermons and prayer in calling for peace and justice and hope to reign in Maguindanao and the whole of Mindanao.

According to Amirah Ali Lidasan, national president of Suara Bangsamoro, without sounding disrespectful in the observance to one of the holy festival of the Muslim people, the Eid’l Adha , the group implore on their religious leaders to take a stand on the massacre incident in Maguindanao on November 23.

Lidasan lifts a quote from the Holy Qur’an as basis for this call and says it is imperative for the religious leaders to take a stand in defense of the people of Maguindanao and to preempt future violence to happen again in Maguindanao and the rest of the Moro areas:

Qur'an 4:75-76  Surah An-Nisaa (The Women) And why should ye not fight in the cause of Allah and of those who being weak are ill-treated (and oppressed)? Men women and children whose cry is: "Our Lord! rescue us from this town whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from Thee one who will protect; and raise for us from Thee one who will help!" Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah and those who reject faith fight in the cause of evil: so fight ye against the friends of Satan: feeble indeed is the cunning of Satan.

‘This is a defining moment for the Moro people of Maguindanao and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. We should publicly condemn the killings and not let political and familial affiliations hinder our responsibility as Muslims to condemn this act,’ said Lidasan.

Lidasan also said that it is the responsibility of the Muslim religious leaders to put back in the hearts and minds of Muslim people that there is nothing to fear but Allah alone, instead of helping perpetuate the fear of politicians and warlord prevail in Maguindanao and the ARMM.

Lidasan grieves with the families and friends of the victims and hopes to reach out with the rest of the Filipino people in condemning this dastardly act.

‘We hope that the Moro people’s outcry be also highlighted as part of public’s outrage. We are in unity with the rest in calling for an end to the culture of impunity to reign in Maguindanao,’ said Lidasan.

Lidasan said that this is not merely a traditional rido and the public should not be led to believe that this is natural or merely part of Moro people’s tradition and culture.

Lidasan said that simplifying the massacre as mere ‘rido’ or traditional clan war is glossing over the heinous crime committed by the warlords - the killing of mustadafins (oppressed) such as the women and the unarmed people who died in the incident – and exonerating the perpetrators from their crime.

Lidasan also criticized President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and presidential aspirant Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. and the rest of the administration party’s move to expell the Ampatuans from their ranks, adding that the administration merely absolve themselves from being party to the rise and continuing warlordism of the Ampatuans in Maguindanao.

‘We should not ignore that it is the same administration who gave the Ampatuans the leverage over other politicians in Maguindanao in exchange for the votes that the administration had been getting from Maguindanao and the ARMM,’ said Lidasan saying that the administration and the Armed Forces of the Philippines should also be held liable for the proliferation of ‘legitimized’ private armies through the EO 546 creating the civilian auxiliary armies for local government units.

Suara Bangsamoro

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