Manifesto of support for the passage of the Anti-Terrorism Bill 2020 by the Imam Council of the Philippines, Inc. and the Culture and Knowledge Forum.
MANILA – A manifesto by the Islamic community states that through the Anti-Terrorism Bill, peace-loving Muslims will be finally protected and eradicate hate towards the Muslim faith.
Believing that terrorism and violent extremism are anathema to the Islamic faith, the Imam Council of the Philippines, Inc. (ICPI) and the Culture and Knowledge Forum (CKF), expressed strong support for the passage of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
In a manifesto of support issued by Aleem Said Basher, Chairman of the ICPI, and Kim Edres, President of the CKF, they stated that the worst victim of violent extremism and terrorism in the country is no less than the Muslims themselves.
“We are one with the billions of Muslims around the world who are consciously aware that terrorism and violent extremism are anathema to our Islamic faith, hence our earnest desire and efforts to help eradicate the same,” the statement reads.
Despite numerous calls from different human rights groups for President Rodrigo Duterte to trash the bill as it is allegedly prone to abuse, the ICPI and the CKF trust that the government will never allow this.
The manifesto states that they firmly believe that the government, particularly the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), "would not weaponize the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 against legitimate dissents, political opposition, let alone innocent civilian”.
They said that the Anti-Terrorism Bill, on the other hand, would “prevent and counteract the imminent threat of terrorism and violent extremism in our country,” giving the Muslim community a chance to “have a better world to share among our peoples, especially the next generations, regardless of faith, color and other social status”. (PNA)
