On Muslim holiday, Veep pushes peace

Vice President Jejomar Binay. CATHY MIRANDA/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Vice President Jejomar Binay greeted Muslims observing Eid’l al-Adha on Monday as he called on the people to work for peace amid the barbaric acts committed by extremist groups like the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group in the Middle East.

Binay said the holiday known as the Feast of Sacrifice, which the Muslim world celebrates after the annual Hadj or trek of the Muslims to Mecca, was a commemoration of the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham in the Old Testament) to sacrifice his son’s Ismail (Ishmael) as an act of submission to God’s will.

In a statement, Binay underscored the need for people to affirm their solidarity, “in pursuing peace and progress by rejecting those who seek to sow only terror and discord in the name of religion.”

“We must not condone the barbaric acts of [IS] and other extremist groups who represent a distorted view of Islam, but instead work to promote interfaith dialogue and religious tolerance,”’ he said.

Both the Philippines and the United States are monitoring moves by IS to recruit members in Mindanao.

US President Barack Obama has declared war on IS, which has beheaded two Americans and a British aid worker.

IS has threatened to execute another American hostage in retaliation for US-led air strikes on its positions in Iraq and Syria.