Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong condemned a recent mall event for seemingly disrespecting a sacred site for Muslims and called for “accountability measures” to prevent the incident from happening again.
Adiong said the incident happened recently during a pet fashion show and contest organized by a mall in Quezon City where a participant walked into the competition area with a dog carrier decorated to resemble the Kaaba — a structure that sits in the heart of the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and is the most sacred site for Muslims around the world.
“The Kaaba is widely considered to be the house of Allah, and the Muslim ummah turns towards its direction as they pray and perform the salah every day. Napakalaking pagkakamali na gamitin ang Kaaba bilang props at gawin itong kulungan ng aso, lalo pa na ang event ay wala namang kinalaman sa Islam at pamumuhay naming mga Muslim,” the legislator said.
“This shows not only a lack of understanding when it comes to our faith that guides our lives, but a complete disregard for our community as Muslims.”
“This shows not only a lack of understanding when it comes to our faith that guides our lives, but a complete disregard for our community as Muslims,” the lawmaker added.
He lamented that these seemingly small things are the beginnings of bigger problems that become the source of discrimination and violence against Muslim communities and families.
“Violence is not just the wielding of physical force that leaves scars on another’s skin; violence also involves acts that reduce a person and their beliefs into mere spectacle and refusing to make room for understanding and inclusion that is necessary for a just society that upholds the rights of all,” Adiong stressed.
He called on the mall administration to conduct an investigation regarding the “glaring lapse in cultural sensitivity and the negligence that allowed the act of ignorance to happen.”
Adiong also urged the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos to take action in response to the unfortunate incident and to coordinate with the mall administration to make sure that the incident would never happen again.
“We demand for accountability measures, including a clear and definite commitment to ensure that this will never happen again.”
“We demand accountability measures, including a clear and definite commitment to ensure that this will never happen again,” he said.
“Hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon na binastos at ipinagsawalang bahala ang aming paniniwala at pamumuhay bilang mga Muslim. Sana ay magtulong-tulong tayo para hindi na ito maulit pa sa ating mga komunidad, at maging daan ito para mas lumalim ang ating pag-unawa at respeto sa ating kapwa,” Adiong concluded.
