As we are
closing in on 2016, the longstanding conflict between the Muslim Moros and the
Christian Filipinos in the Philippines is coming to an end. The peace talks
between the government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF) are promising and the public support for the Bangsamoro peace shows a
culture of peace is being constructed. A number of local and international
actors are involved in the process of supporting peace. If the sides will be
able to conclude the peace process successfully, the Moro case will become a
model for peacemaking in the future, especially for the Muslim World. The role
of international Islamic actors is undeniable. Turkey, Malaysia, and the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation are actively elevating the peace. The religious
aspect of the conflict is significant and requires further emphasis. The papal
visit to the Philippines between January 15 and 19 is evidence of the
significance of religion’s role. Pope Francis’ messages during his visit echoed
positively in the public. Turkey’s Presidency of Religious Affairs (PRA) should
also plan a visit to the Philippines and deliver the message of Muslim World, both
to the different segments of society of the Philippines and to the world.
Religion is at
the core of the conflict and the ethno-religious nature of the conflict
requires the involvement of religious actors in the peacebuilding process. The
“Muslim problem” of the Catholic Christian Filipinos and therefore the state is
balanced with the “Christian problem” of the Muslims. This assessment is noteworthy
to clearly map the conflict. The reactionary identity constructions of the groups
feed their mindset and behaviors in approaching the conflict. In his letter to
the Pope, MILF Chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim defines the Muslim cause as a struggle
for peace and fight in the name of Allah “for a homeland, where the Muslims can
worship him and live his light in peace.” Obviously receiving support for the
peace from religious authorities has important influences people’s perceptions
on the peacebuilding process. The Muslims, as well as the Catholic Christians,
welcomed the Pope’s visit and positively received his messages. Pope Francis’
tone in addressing the two sides was constructive in terms of his support to
different players in the process. Such a visit from an important Islamic leader
to show the dedication of Muslims to peace would have positive influence on the
current process in the Philippines, as well as boosting the image of the Muslim
World.
The PRA of
Turkey is suitable for such a task and a possible visit of President Mehmet
Görmez would be welcomed in the Philippines. As the PRA is becoming more
engaged with the complications of the Muslim World, such visit would make
positive contributions to Turkey’s peacemaking initiatives. The increasing
activity of the PRA in the Muslim World after the 12 September 1980 coup d’état
and especially with the fall of the Soviet Union increases people’s
expectations from the institution. After the dissolution of the USSR, the PRA’s
role became closer to that of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an
internationally active PRA replaced the PRA having loose ties to the Muslim World.
The Foundation of Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs in 1984 was an initiative
to increase the role of the PRA in Europe, and today, the PRA is actively
working on different continents taking responsibility for the problems of the
Muslim World. With some adjustments in 2014, the PRA became directly under the
Prime Ministry. This move of the government is significant, for it shows that
the role of the PRA is going to increase in the following years. The PRA is an
important institution for Turkey, when the condition of the country’s
environment and the Muslim World is taken into consideration. The unfortunate increasing
connection of Islam and violence and related Islamophobia, shows the necessity
to elevate the peaceful behaviors of Islam.
The Philippines
stands to be one of the countries where Muslims succeeded to reach their goals
through peaceful transition and therefore makes an important model for the
Muslim World. A probable visit of the President of PRA to the Philippines would
be one of the most significant initiatives of the PRA. Such visit will also
respond to the expectations from the PRA. Mediation is among the foreign policy
goals of Turkey and the government under Ahmet Davutoğlu will continue their
efforts in this direction. Bringing the PRA under the Prime Ministry is not
only a symbolic step, the government is in favor of an active PRA in dealing
with the problems of the Muslim World. From this perspective, a visit to the
Philippines would have noteworthy symbolic meaning. A visit with the purpose of
supporting the peace process would definitely contribute to the image of the
Muslim World.
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21.01.2015 tarihinde şu adreste yayımlandı:
http://www.turkeyagenda.com/turkish-presidency-of-religious-affairs-should-be-in-phillipines-for-peace-1849.html
Published in
the following link on 21.01.2015:
http://www.turkeyagenda.com/turkish-presidency-of-religious-affairs-should-be-in-phillipines-for-peace-1849.html
