Davao City Muslim religious leaders hold peace summit

A total of 40 Muslim religious leaders participated in the first ever Ulama Peace Summit at the Paglas Compound, Mamay Road on Thursday.

The summit, spearheaded by the Task Force Davao, aims to provide a venue for the participating ulama to “address miscommunication, misconception, and discrimination” among the Muslim community in the city as well as to voice their aspirations for peace.

Strengthening the ties between the Muslim religious leaders and the local government towards peace-building, the summit also centered around the propagation of Davao City’s culture of security.

The summit was also attended by the six Muslim deputy mayors of Davao City, Task Force Davao Commander Darren Comia, Grand Mufti Region XI Mufti Alem Mohammad Yusop Pasigan, President of Mercy Islamic Foundation Shiekh Abu Muhammad Al-Kholaqi, and other public and religious functionaries.

Thursday’s summit included a workshop through which the ulama discussed and created their own action plans on how to champion peace in their congregation and community, and a signing of a Manifesto of Support for the summit and its goals.

“We found it necessary na puntahan ang mga kasamahan nating (to go to our friends) ulama since they are the religious leaders and because we believe that they are the influencers of their own community. Kailangan nating hingin ang suporta at kooperasyon nang sa ganon ang ating culture of security maging maayos ang pagapatupad sa lahat ng sectors dito sa Davao City. (We need to ask for their support and cooperation so that our culture of security can be fully implemented across all sectors here in Davao City),” Comia said.

Comia, who presented the Summit’s workshop outputs to Mayor Sebastian Duterte, said that because the Ulama Peace Summit was a success, it will most likely become an annual event that can enhance the peace and security situation of the city.

“May susunod pa ito kasi nagpropose sila (There will be another on because they asked) to continue this kind of engagement with them. This is just the beginning.”

One of the outcomes of the workshop is the ulama’s request to craft a city ordinance that will protect them from hostility and discrimination. Another is the creation of a higher institution to perpetuate the ulama’s mission of peace among the coming generations.

Duterte said he supports the ulama’s proposal for an Islamic higher institution in the city.

He said that in Davao City, religion shall not be used as a tool by which one’s propensity to do evil is measured. He reminded the participants of the existing anti-discrimination law, which he said, should be utilized by anyone who experiences any form of discrimination. CIO