In the wake of the Sept 2 Davao City blast that killed 15 people and wounded at least 69 others, the city government’s public safety office has proposed to require Muslim women to take off their burqas upon entering malls as a security measure.
Benito de Leon, head of the Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC), said the plan was part of security protocol following the attack in Davao city.
In an apparent reference to the burqa, De Leon said:
“We will be requiring people, upon entering malls and other establishments, to remove their caps, bonnets, sunglasses, including hijabs (for women) for inspection.”
De Leon assured it was not discriminatory as the ruling would apply to “anything that can conceal their faces or identities”.
However, a religious group has criticized the move.The Suara Bangsamoro group said the move discriminates against Muslims and is disrespectful towards their beliefs.
Following the blast, Duterte has place Davao in an indefinite “state of national emergency on account of lawless violence”.
Although many believe that Muslim extremist group Abu Sayyaf was behind the Davao bombing, a spokesman for the group denied the terror attack.
