House solon lauds approval of Nat’l Hijab Day bill
A MINDANAO House leader has lauded the House Committee on Muslim Affairs for the approval of the National Hijab Day bill, which is “one step forward in the fight vs discrimination.”
“Isa itong malaking hakbang sa ating pagpupunyagi at pagsisikap laban sa diskriminasyon base sa relihiyon. Umaasa tayo na ngayong Kongreso ay maging ganap na batas na ito,” said Deputy Minority Leader and Basilan Representative Mujiv Hataman said.
The measure seeks to declare February 1 of every year as “National Hijab Day” to raise awareness of Muslim traditions and fight discrimination based on religious beliefs.
“It is time to pass this measure into law. Ito ay para imulat ang mga mamamayan sa kahalagahan ng pagsusuot ng hijab para sa mga kababayan nating Moro,” Hataman, a former governor of the now-defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), said.
“Ang panukalang ito ay may layong itaas ang antas ng pang-unawa ng lahat tungkol sa tradisyon at kultura ng mga kababayan nating Muslim, partikular sa pagsusuot ng hijab sa hanay ng mga kababaihan. Ito rin ay isang instrumento para labanan ang diskriminasyon base sa relihiyon,” Hataman added.
Hataman authored House Bill (HB) No. 3725, which has been consolidated with HB No. 1363 filed by Rep. Bai Dimple Mastura. The resulting measure comprises the House Committee of Muslim Affairs report that has been approved by a majority of its members.
This measure has been filed and re-filed since the 16th Congress by then Anak Mindanao Party-list Rep. Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman.
In fact, during the 17th and 18th Congress, it was approved by the House of Representatives on the third and final reading. Unfortunately, it did not get Senate approval.
“Discrimination emanates from the mind. Kung galing sa maling paniniwala o kaisipan, mali din ang aksyon, mali ang tugon. Kailangan nating iwasto ang maling kaisipan tungkol sa pagsusuot ng hijab, kailangan natin ng mas malalim na pang-unawa na ito ay simbolo ng dangal at dignidad ng mga Muslim,” Hataman said.
“Dahil sa paglaganap ng maling paniniwala ukol dito, madami ang hindi tinatanggap sa mga paaralan, ang hindi natatanggap sa trabaho, ang hindi pinagbebentahan sa mga tindahan, at ang hindi pinaparahan ng mga pampublikong sasakyan,” added the senior leader of the House of Representatives.
Hataman thanked the House committee members on Muslim affairs, particularly its chair Rep. Khalid Dimaporo, for expediting the approval of this much-needed measure.
