Hataman urges Senate to pass Nat’l Hijab Day bill
IN celebration of World Hijab Day Wednesday, Basilan Representative Mujiv Hataman is asking senators to approve their own version of the National Hijab Day bill that was already passed by their counterparts in the House of Representatives last year.
“It will be a big win in the fight against religious discrimination,” Hataman, a former governor of the now-defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), said.
“As we commemorate World Hijab Day with the rest of the world, it is my sincerest prayer that this measure passes the Senate’s scrutiny. Sana this time around, maging batas na ito para sa susunod na taon ay National Hijab Day na ang ating ipinagdiriwang,” Hataman said.
“Ang ating panukala ay may kasamang education campaign na layong itaas ang antas ng kaalaman at kamulatan ng ating mga kababayan tungkol sa tradisyon ng mga kababaihang Muslim na magsuot ng hijab, na ito ay bahagi ng kanilang pagpapahayag ng kalayaan sa pananampalataya,” he added.
The congressional office of Hataman, in cooperation with the House Committee on Muslim Affairs chaired by Rep. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo, prepared a short program in the House of Representatives to commemorate World Hijab Day 2023.
He is one of the principal authors of House Bill No. 5693, which the House approved on the third and final reading in November last year.
It has already been transmitted to the Senate, whose version has already been approved at the committee level and waiting for second reading deliberations in plenary.
“Ang hijab ay simbolo ng dangal at dignidad ng mga Muslim, hindi instrumento ng diskriminasyon. Kaya naman, tinatawagan ko ang mga kagalang-galang nating mga senador na aprubahan na ang National Hijab Day Bill, para nang sa gayon ay masimulan na ang pambansang pagmumulat at pagtutuwid ng maling kaalaman,” Hataman explained.
“Gaya nga ng nasabi ko na dati, nagsisimula ang diskriminasyon sa isip, sa maling paniniwala, na maitutuwid lamang sa pamamagitan ng tamang pagtuturo sa kahalagahan ng hijab sa kultura at pananampalataya ng mga Moro,” he further said.
The commemoration of World Hijab Day 2023 was held at the North Wing Lobby of the House of Representatives. Guests and speakers include House Speaker Martin G. Romualdez, Linabelle Ruth Villarica, and Bai Dimple Mastura, another principal author of HB 5693.
Representatives from the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos and the UP Institute for Islamic Studies were also present during the event.
The National Hijab Day measure was also passed on the third and final reading in the lower chamber but failed to hurdle Senate approval.
