TURKISH PRESIDENCY OF RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS SHOULD BE IN THE PHILIPPINES FOR PEACE

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