Manila: A senior Muslim lawmaker has filed a bill calling for the creation of an Islamic university in the southern Philippines, where an estimated 10 million Muslims live.
Congresswoman Faysah Dumarpa said the proposed university "will definitely give Filipino Muslims a sense of solidarity."
"The university is aimed at perpetuating Islamic values, ideals, aspirations, and orientations and would develop the total spiritual, intellectual, social, cultural, scientific, and physical aspects of the Muslim populace to make them God-fearing, productive, and patriotic citizens," she said.
At the same time, Dumarpa wrote a letter to Dr. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, secretary general of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), saying that the Philippine government and the OIC must jointly undertake the establishment of an Islamic university in Mindanao.
"The cooperation of the Philippine government and the OIC in the establishment of an Islamic university would erase the misconception that the madrasas were being used as training ground for terrorism," Dumarpa explained.
She proposed that the OIC should bankroll the establishment of the Islamic university in the south.
Ihsanoglu has expressed support for the proposal.
"It is such a morale booster for our brother Muslims..." said Dumarpa.
She volunteered her expertise in the establishment of an Islamic academy in Mindanao should the OIC decide to undertake the project.
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