COTABATO CITY, July 10 — An influential Muslim religious leader here on Monday urged the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to safeguard its territory from intrusion and influence by jihadists who have been eyeing poor communities in Mindanao.
Bangsamoro Murfti Abuhuraira Abdurahnam Udasan, head of the Bangsamoro Darul Ifta (House of Opinion), has issued a Shariah asserting on the need to fight extremism that has brought misery to many Muslim Filipinos in Mindanao, especially in Marawi City.
In a seven-paragraph Fatwa No. 1 (ruling), Udasan stressed that the issue of extremism espoused by misguided has sown intrigues and division among Muslims and non-Muslims in the island.
He pointed out that the Islamic’s principal sources of law – the Qur’an and the written tradition of Prophet Muhammad are clearly against abuses and violence.
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) have infiltrated the Muslim communities in southern Philippines, the military has admitted and President Duterte made it public few months after assuming office.
Dr. Aboulkhayer Tarason, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM’s) grand mufti and head of Regional Darul Ifta, issued the same ruling and urged the regional government to invest more on the Muslim youth education to protect them from becoming easy prey of jihadists. He stressed lack of education makes the young easily corrupted by terrorists.
The MILF which is talking peace with the Philippine government readily responded and assured the Muslim religious leader of its determination to prevent the spread of false Islamic belief in areas where MILF communities exist in Mindanao.
He was quoted as saying that all MILF leaders across the island have been alerted and will do its best to reject, if necessary, fight, extremists entering their communities in Mindanao. (EOF/PNA)
