FOLLOWING THE celebration of Eid’l Fitr on Wednesday, the Iloilo United Muslim Community thanked the people of Iloilo for treating them with respect. “There is no fear because our Ilonggo brothers and sisters treat us with respect. There is no discrimination. We can 100% practice our religion here,” Sultan Sammy Hadjimanan, spokesperson of the Iloilo United Muslim Community, said in an interview as they gathered at the La Paz Public Plaza to pray and celebrate the end of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting. Mr. Hadjimanan said there are about 3,000 Muslims in the province, including Iloilo City, some of whom came following the 2017 siege in the Islamic City of Marawi. “They feel the peace and order here in Iloilo and the good treatment of Ilonggos, especially in our mosques,” he said. Most of them are engaged in businesses on clothing and mobile telephone accessories in malls and other shopping centers. “Almost 95% have cellphone accessories and ready-to-wear garment businesses,” he said. — Emme Rose S. Santiagudo

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