COTABATO CITY—Twenty-four members of the Bangsamoro Parliament approved, through nominal voting, a resolution supporting consolidated bills in the Senate declaring February 1 as National Hijab Day.

The resolution lauded House Bill No. 8249 and Senate Bill 2081, aiming to annually recognize Muslim women’s contributions to nation-building and moral governance.

Women wear hijabs with pride, honor, and dignity, according to the approved resolution, contrary to the misconception of associating it with terrorism and violence.

In support of the senators’ efforts, the Parliament emphasized that the measure will help break the stigma and foster social solidarity and harmonious discussion among people of different faith and cultural backgrounds.

“The objective of the proposed bills in the Senate is parallel with the goal of the Bangsamoro Government in ensuring mutual respect and protection of our distinct beliefs, customs and traditions,” said Bainon Karon in her sponsorship speech, a key author of the adopted measure and chairperson of the Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC).

“In a careful consultation with our Muslim Religious Leaders (MRLs) from the Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta’, Mufti Abuhuraira Udasan emphasized that the observance of hijab day is not forbidden innovation in Islam (bid’ah). Its sole purpose is to remind the Muslim women that hijab is an obligation,” she added.

BWC was invited to attend a Senate committee meeting in July to refine and amend the mentioned bills.

Both bills were consolidated and referred to the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities and Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality for deliberation. (Publication and Media Relations Division)