GIVEN TEXT:

MUSLIM KA SIR?
I was recently reminded of it when residents of a Muslim community in San Andres Bukid,
Manila, reported that they were illegally searched and arrested by law enforcers on account of
drug-related planted evidence. It happened during our country’s 122nd Independence Day.

Discrimination can be a complex word to define, but it is best understood when you experience it
yourself. Discrimination against Muslims in our country, though, is not hard to come by.
Unfortunately, as much as a lot has been said about it and as more Muslim leaders continue to
talk about it, it seems like we haven’t talked about it enough for more people to rally against it.

When President Duterte certified the anti-terrorism bill as urgent, I was reminded of everything
that made me uncomfortable about being a Muslim.

Policies, especially those that want to address issues like terrorism, shouldn’t be rushed to the
point of compromising other important and basic factors such as human rights. Because, instead
of protecting the public from the harm of terrorism, it will just seem like an attack on our
freedom and our identity.

If you are a Muslim and you live in a society where terrorism is easily linked to your religion, the
new law should concern you. Moreover, when you have a government which has continuously
shown disregard of human rights and even judicial processes in its implementation of other
policies, the law should concern everyone. Your words of dissent can be used against you. Your
affiliations can be used against you. Your name alone can be used against you.

The discussion on the anti-terrorism law also mirrors how our country still sees Muslim
discrimination—subtle, and just “isolated cases.” However, it is anything but subtle and isolated.

It is something you hear from a preschooler’s mouth. It can be how a random person will react to
what you wear. It can be how a taxi driver will treat you. It is reflected in some academic
institution’s policies. It is what’s written in the memorandum of a police district office. It is when
your house is illegally searched and you’re illegally arrested. It is why some people feel like they
need to work harder. It is why others choose to revolt.
Although the law reminds me of everything that made me uncomfortable about being a Muslim,
it also reminds me of why we need to speak up more.