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MILF, Muslims in Philippines Condemn Attack on Afghanistan
JAKARTA, Oct 9 (IslamOnline) - The Philippines was rocked by a huge rally Monday, the first of its kind, in protest against U.S. attacks on Afghanistan.
Some 10,000 Muslim residents of Marawi City called on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Tuesday to withdraw the Philippines support to the U.S.-led attack on Afghanistan.
At the rally staged by the Islamic Movement for Electoral Reforms and Good Government, Muslim leaders threatened to call for a
jihad, or struggle, against Arroyo's administration unless it withdrew support from the U.S.-led attacks.
Lanao del Sur Vice Gov. Dimaporo Datu Ramus said Muslims in the city expressed their concern that the military strikes against Afghanistan would lead to the death of innocent people.
Muslim leaders also took the opportunity to voice their support for the Taliban government of Afghanistan.
They also praised Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden and called him a "hero".
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) later joined them in the protests against the U.S. attacks.
The MILF issued a communiqué in which it said the attacks, which is supposed to force the Taliban-led Afghan government to give up bin Laden, would not solve global terrorism, but only result in the mass killings of Afghan civilians.
MILF vice chairman for military affairs, Al-hadj Murad, added that the attacks are generating sympathy for Afghan Muslims such that the MILF has no control over Filipino Muslims who may sow chaos in the country in support for their brothers in Afghanistan.
He also said that if the Filipino Muslim community officially recognizes the jihad called by the Taliban, Filipino fighters, or
mujahidin may go to Afghanistan to fight.
Murad further confirmed that bin Laden has supporters in the country, but they are not members of the MILF.
Others in Mindanao consider bin laden a benefactor, citing his financial contributions to projects in Mindanao through the International Islamic Relief Organization.
Most Muslims in the country warned Arroyo of possible repercussions for her administration's support for the United States' "war against terrorism".
Arroyo is supporting the U.S.-led military attacks against Afghanistan and sees them as a "just and humane" campaign to rid the world of terrorists, National Security Adviser Roilo Golez said Tuesday.
The U.S. Embassy in Manila told Arroyo that an attack was imminent hours before it was launched on Sunday, Golez told local television.
"They called us up, they informed the President that the action was going to start very soon, so that's prior notice given to the Philippines as a matter of courtesy," Golez said, adding Arroyo fully supports the air strike and the military campaign.
Arroyo also asked Filipinos to unite and continue supporting the ongoing offensive against the group of international terrorists.
"Here in the Philippines, most [Muslim] organizations, including the MILF and the MNLF [Moro National Liberation Front], support the effort against the al-Qaeda network, including its sponsor, the Taliban regime," Arroyo said.
Earlier, Philippine officials said there were infinite possibilities that the U.S. attack on Afghanistan may incite reaction from Muslims in the Philippines and other countries with notable Muslim populations.
With additional reporting by Kazi Mahmood
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