Tags: General News, Legislation, Public Holidays and Celebration
By Alexander Villafania
PASAY CITY, METRO MANILA – At the height of the celebration of the Islamic Eid’al Adha (Feast of Sacrifice), Senator Ramon Revilla, Jr. called attention to his proposal that bans the use of the words “Muslim” and “Islam” when identifying criminals in media.
Senate Bill No. 1990 bans the would make it unlawful to use such words in any form of media – - print, television, radio, and Internet. If turned into law, those found guilty will face imprisonment from one to six months and be fined P1,000 to P10,000.
In a statement, Revilla said that identifying criminals based on religious leanings is disparaging. It also promotes discrimination among Filipinos who could generalize that “the potential for criminality can be garnered simply being Muslim”.
The bill seeks to ban the use of phrases like “Muslim criminals” or “Muslim terrorists”.
“The word Muslim means follower of Allah. Thus, these words are extremely injurious to our non-Christian countrymen. We must put a stop to this religiously biased practice,” said Revilla.
He added that such measure promotes better understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims. “This might be one of the ways to attain long lasting peace in the southern region,” he said.
Religion is one of the major issues in the ongoing conflict between armed groups and the government in Mindanao. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has been pushing for a separate Islamic state.
However, a 2008 report by U.S. Department of State showed that apart from economic differences, discrimination of Muslim and ethnic minorities in Mindanao allegedly by members of the Christian majority have contributed to the ongoing conflict.
The Muslim population in the Philippines is the second largest in terms of religion. According to the National Statistics Office (NSO) there are at least 4.12 million Muslim Filipinos as of 2007, which accounts for over five percent of the country’s population.
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