The Bangsamoro is part of the global Muslim Ummah (community) and has an observer status in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the global body representing the interest of Muslim nation-states and communities. As such, it should be part of its tasks to promote within its territory and jurisdiction the global consensus on important contemporary issues affecting the global community including but not limited to the following:
(a) Kalimatun Siwā (A Common Word)1. – This consensus states that “Muslims and Christians together make up well over half of the world’s population. Without peace and justice between these two religious communities, there can be no meaningful peace in the world. The future of the world depends on peace between Muslims and Christians”;
(b) Risalatu Amman (Amman Message)2. – This consensus was adopted in response to growing division and intolerance among Muslims and addresses questions such as what Islam is and what it is not; and what actions represent it and what actions do not. Its goal was to clarify to the modern world the true nature of Islam and the nature of true Islam in the spirit of tanawu’ (diversity) and tafāwut (tolerance);
(c) I’lān Marrākish (Marrakesh Declaration)3. – This consensus begins with the historic revival of the objectives and aims of the Charter of Medina, taking into account global and international treaties and utilizing enlightening, innovative case studies that are good examples of working towards pluralism. Further, it desires to contribute to the broader legal discourse surrounding contractual citizenship and the protection of minorities, to awaken the dynamism of Muslim societies and encourage the creation a broad-based movement of protecting religious minorities in Muslim land;
(d) I’lān Mārdīn al-Jadīd (New Mardin Declaration)4. – This consensus was based on the study of one of the most important (classical juridical) foundations of the relations between Muslims and fellow human beings, namely: the (classical juridical) classification of ‘abodes’ (diyar), as Islamically conceived, and other related concepts such as jihad, loyalty and enmity, citizenship, and migration (to non-Muslim territories). Further, the contemporary jurists found the need to review the classical classification of abodes because there is a real need for a sound Islamic and legal vision that does not violate Islamic religious texts, is in harmony with the higher objectives of the Shari‘ah (Islamic Law), and engages contemporary context;
(e) Al-Ukhuwatul Bashariyyah (Human Fraternity). –How different faiths can live peaceably in the same world and areas and adopt a culture of dialogue; mutual cooperation as the code of conduct; reciprocal understanding as the method and standard5.
(f) Adoption and Adaptation of Consensuses. - Towards the stated objectives of these consensuses, the Bangsamoro government should actively promote inter-religious and intra-religious dialogue, minority protection, active non-violence and peaceful co-existence principles and practices through its educational system, among other mechanisms at its disposal as provided for in the Bangsamoro Organic Law.
Footnotes
1 A Common Word - https://www.acommonword.com/
2 The Amman Message - http://ammanmessage.com/
3 Marrakesh Declaration, the Rights of Religious Minorities in Predominantly Muslim Majority Communities - http://www.marrakeshdeclaration.org/
4 New Mardin Declaration - http://binbayyah.net/english/the-new-mardin-declaration/
5 Document on Human Fraternity (English) - https://www.pcinterreligious.org/download/318
