Manila (AsiaNews) Muslim and Christian leaders are opposed to a new national identification system, especially as it applies to predominantly-Muslim areas. The Union of Muslims for Morality and Truth (UMMAT), led by lawyer Nasser Marohomsalic, and the Moro-Christian People's Alliance (MCPA), headed by vice chairman Ren Jalaluddin Ropeta, demanded why only "Muslim-dominated" areas should use this humiliating ID system.
"The exclusive implementation of the national ID system in Muslim communities in Metro Manila is clearly an anti-Muslim policy that aims to typecast Muslims as a community of terrorists," said Marohomsalic. "Having an ID system for Muslims," he said, "is a violation of their rights to privacy, safety, and security. Thousands of Muslims come to Metro Manila only to buy goods or visit relatives."
Ropeta warned against the dangers of the ID system for Muslims. "The Muslim people must not fall into the terror snare that some officials are perpetrating," he noted. "This is 'Islamophobia' in its most blatant form. We call on all who advocate peace and human rights to stand up against this [form of] prejudice".
