Hataman praying for 2 causes; what can they be?
At A Glance
- Basilan lone distric Rep. Mujiv Hataman is praying for justice for the innocent Palestinians being killed in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as justice for the victims of the Mindanao State University (MSU) bombing.
Basilan lone distric Rep. Mujiv Hataman (Facebook)
An alliance of Muslim Filipino organizations held a prayer rally at the Bonifacio Shrine in Manila on Sunday, Dec. 3, and called for the permanent end to the hostilities in Gaza and the West Bank.
The United Muslim Filipinos for Peace and Justice in Palestine, a coalition of more than a hundred Filipino Muslim organizations, condemned Israel’s aggression against Palestinians which resulted in the deaths of thousands.
The coalition also condemned the recent bombing of a Catholic student mass at the Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City on Sunday morning, which reportedly killed four people and wounded several others.
“Dalawa ang aming dalangin sa prayer rally na ito: hustisya para sa mga inosenteng Palestino na pinapatay sa Gaza at West Bank ngayon, at hustisya para sa mga biktima ng pambobomba sa MSU kahapon,” said House Deputy Minority Leader Basilan lone distric Rep. Mujiv Hataman, one of the convenors of the alliance.
(We pray for two causes in this prayer rally: justice for the innocent Palestinians being killed in Gaza and the West Bank, and justice for the victims of the MSU bombing yesterday.)
“Andito kami para isigaw ang aming pagkondena sa mga karahasang ito,” Hataman stressed.
(We are here to voice our condemnation to these acts of violence.)
“We will not stop until our voices are heard and the violence in Palestine comes to a permanent end. Tuloy-tuloy lang namin ang aming pagkilos na aming sinimulan sa prayer rally na ito,” he added.
(We will continue our movement that we started with this prayer rally.)
The United Muslim Filipinos alliance is composed of over a hundred organizations, including 1Bangsa, United Muslim Chairmen of Manila, Manila Mosques and Administrations, UP Muslim Students Association, Anak Mindanao, Amin Youth, United Youth for Peace and Development, Ako Bakwit, Ummahat BASECO and several others.
In a statement of solidarity, the coalition called for an urgent ceasefire to allow essential aid to reach Palestinians in Gaza. They also urge allies of Israel, such as the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK), to actively pursue a peaceful and enduring resolution to the ongoing conflict.
“A just resolution must ensure the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and secure its right to exist peacefully,” the statement read.
“We call on the Philippines, through its leaders, to add its voice to the global chorus advocating for peace in Gaza and the West Bank. As a nation that values justice and humanitarian principles, we encourage our leaders to play a role in promoting dialogue and understanding in the international arena,” it added. --Dexter Barro II