Ulama lead 5,000 in Marawi rally vs extremists, terrorism

ULAMA in the Lanao provinces led some 5,000 Muslims in an indignation rally at Plaza Cabili in Banggolo, Marawi City, on March 10 to condemn the assassination attempt on respected cleric and author Dr. Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni and diplomat Sheik Turki Assaegh on March 2 in Zamboanga City. RICHEL V. UMEL/INQUIRER MINDANAO-

MARAWI CITY—Islamic scholars belonging to the Ulama Alliance in the two Lanao provinces and Marawi City have been receiving death threats because of their criticism of extremists and fundamentalists, particularly after the failed assassination of a popular Saudi cleric in Zamboanga City, a member of the group said.

Sheik Sadiq Usman said because of their views against extremism, they have been hounded by threats from emerging radicals.

“We have been receiving threats through text messages and in our Facebook accounts even before and after the foiled assassination attempt on Dr. Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni,” Usman said.

Al-Qarni and Saudi religious attache Sheik Turki Assaegh were wounded in the attack. The suspected gunman, a 21-year-old student, was killed by policemen escorting the two officials, while two other suspects had been arrested.

But Usman said the threats apparently heightened after his group led a rally here on Thursday, which was attended by about 5,000 moderate Muslims. During the rally, the speakers took turns condemning the failed assassination and blamed radical Muslims for it.

Usman said while the threats could be real, they were not cowed and his group would continue to criticize radicals.

“We are not afraid of the threats,” he said.

During the rally, a manifesto signed by Aleem Ali Solaiman Bangcola of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Usman’s Ulama Alliance was also made public.

The manifesto urged the government to take immediate action to solve the Al-Qarni assassination case as soon as possible.

Dr. Guimba Poingan, representative of the academic sector, also spoke at the rally and warned that the government failure to solve the case could put a barrier between the Philippines and Saudi Arabia. Richel Umel, Inquirer Mindanao