Filipino Muslims gather at the Quiapo Mosque in Manila on Sunday (June 29, 2014) to mark the start of Ramadan, a time for spiritual reflection. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims are required to abstain from eating, fasting, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Muslim leaders gathered Monday in a roundtable discussion to convey their call for a sectoral representative of Muslims residing outside the Bangsamoro entity.
Led by 1-Bangsamoro movement, the event served as a venue for leaders to justify their recommendation for the Bangsamoro Basic Law or BBL.
Among the factors which support their recommendation are said to be the large number of Muslims living outside the Bangsamoro entity who have found residence in some parts of Luzon and Visayas; and also the “big contribution” of the said sector of Muslims.
Apart from having a sectoral representative, Muslim leaders also urged for the creation of Shari’ah courts in certain areas in the country where there is an “appreciable” number of Muslims. This is due to some cases of Muslims which are only covered by the Shari’ah law, they said.
Adding to their list of demands for the BBL is the conduct of special voters’ registration for Muslims outside Mindanao and also for Muslim OFWs.
In the House of Representatives, only two committee hearings are left before the committee’s voting on BBL.
“We are looking forward to the passage of BBL before the year ends,” Sultan Mohammad Bano of National Federation of Police Accredited Muslim NGOs (NFPAM) said. (MNS)