DAVAO CITY -- Muslim leaders and Islamic organizations in Mindanao are opposing the proposed internationalization of two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia.
This opposition will be expressed in a manifesto that no country or nation should intervene in the management of the Holy Sites except the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Davao City Madrasah Development Program executive director Alim Jamal said he believes that the proposed "internationalization" of the management of the two grand mosques in Mecca and Medina is being influenced by Iran and Qatar.
"This idea has been brought before by Iran and revived by Qatar which somehow appears it is politically motivated," Jamal said.
Jamal said the two countries have no right to take the management rights of the two grand mosques because of its religious background that Prophet Mohammad said in their doctrines. He said a war may arise if these countries insisted on its management.
"Sabi po ng foreign minister ng Saudi Arabia (The foreign minister of Saudi Arabia said), it is a declaration of war. So what will happen if this will take place," he said.
Davao Region Grand Mufti Mohammad Pasigan said the Muslim leaders already signed a manifesto sending it to the embassies in Manila expressing their opposition during their conference in Manila.
Pasigan called other Muslim groups in the Philippines to unite against the "internationalization"of the holy sites.
For his part, Bangsamoro Non-Muslim affairs executive director Abdulhadi Gumander said Saudi Arabia is the only country that has the right to the two sites since these are part of their territory.
Gumander said intervening within the territory of a certain country is a form of mockery to their constitution.
"This may cause chaos and problems in terms of international relations," he said. Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)) Grand Mufti Abdulkhair Tarason said they are worried that if the internationalization will push through, these two Holy Mosques might be mismanaged.
"These two Grand Mosques were managed and maintained well by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," he said.
Tarason said he and the other leaders will stand firm on their faith that their religious places will not be interfered by other nations just because they are claiming as Muslims. (Armando Fenequito Jr/PNA)
