Governor in Philippines south calls for unity on Eid

By Roy Ramos

ZAMBOANGA CITY, the Philippines

The governor of the Philippines’ Muslim south called for unity Monday as worshippers flocked to mosques across the country for Eid al-Adha.

Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said in a statement, “we remember [Prophet] Ibrahim's sacrifice, one that is guided by his faith in Allah.”

He also underlined the need to “take pause to remember what Islam means to us as Muslims living in a time where many choose to turn a blind eye to our sacrifices and in a world where many look upon our faith with prejudice”.

“As Muslims, this prejudice is a burden that is familiar to us. We are often persecuted because of our faith, because there are those who sow fear and terror as they claim they are Muslims who follow the path of Islam,” Hataman added.

“We need to stand together and unite against these traitors to Islam and the many other evils that try to tear us apart."

In the nearby predominantly Christian city of Zamboanga, hundreds of Muslims gathered for congregational prayers at several places of worship including the Santa Barbara district mosque in the heart of the city.

Emerging from the mosque after the morning prayer, local Muslims expressed their wish for peace as well as harmony with those of other faiths.

"I hope that peace will reign in our city and Muslims and Christians will unite," Omar Mandi, a market vendor, told Anadolu Agency.

During a celebration at the University of the Philippines Diliman in Metro Manila, Muslims also prayed for an immediate end to the decades-long conflict in Mindanao, where several armed groups -- including some involved in an ongoing peace process with the government-- operate.

The dean of the university’s Institute of Islamic Studies, Professor Macrina Morados, emphasized that Islam is a religion that promotes peace and love.

"It is wrong to identify with Islam the extremist groups that use the religion's name to perpetrate crimes," she told news broadcaster ABS-CBN.

President Rodrigo Duterte, who hails from Mindanao, has declared Sept. 12 a public holiday throughout the country in observance of Eid al-Adha