"NOT MERELY UZ, EVEN MALACAÑANG HAS NO POLICY PROHIBITING NIQAB"

By: Neocatalyst

Late UZ President and CEO who succinctly declared that 

“UZ HAS NO POLICY PROHIBITING NIQAB”

Via email message dated May 27, 2010, Thursday in response to our lobby on Right to Education as well as Right to Freedom of Religion within the university, the late President and CEO of Universidad de Zamboanga Sir ARTURO "Ammar" EUSTAQUIO III, positively responded thru a succinct declaration that he has made:  

“UZ HAS NO POLICY PROHIBITING NIQAB”. 

Thus, it is both ironic and unreasonable that a certain niqaabi who was supposed to enroll at Universidad de Zamboanga (UZ) WAS ALLOWED to take the entrance examinations thereat WITHOUT being asked to take off her niqaab; yet, when she passed said exams with highest scores, she was allegedly IMPEDED TO ENROLL by the Pharmacy Department just because she wears niqaab. The said incident transpired today 14 May 2012, Monday at UZ.

“One of our sisters named Sitti Ridzka Muktader called me through phone around 3:00 P.M. and told me that she wasn’t allowed to enroll at Universidad de Zamboanga as a Pharmacy student. I asked her to contact Alnajib Maujun (outgoing president of MSA-UZ) for I still have my class and I can’t be with her. After my class, I went to her at UZ City Campus and asked for a report. She said that after she took the qualifying examination she was told to ask a note from Mr. Bazan, Program Chair of Pharmacy Department allowing her to enroll with her niqaab on. When she talked to Sir Bazan, Sir Bazan negatively answered that “Niqaab is not allowed in UZ because the previous niqaabis which are now on their second year level are the LAST batch of niqaabis.“--extracted from the incident report sent to me by one of the MSA-UZ officers.

Furthermore, another report that has come to our knowledge:

“Ferwina Dangkahan, a sister who’s now on her second year level as a Pharmacy student wore her niqaab just few months ago, reported around 5:00 P.M. at the same day; when she was about to evaluate her grades at Registrar, UZ City Campus, Sir Bazan asked for her I.D. and noticed that she was a newly niqaabi. He told her that she’s not following School Rules and Regulations for niqaab is not allowed in UZ. He then asked her to shift to other coarse if she wants to wear her niqaab.” --extracted from the incident report sent to me by one of the MSA-UZ officers.

It must be noted that UZ is a university in Zamboanga City that "HAS NO POLICY PROHIBITing THE WEARING OF NIQAAB" among Muslimat students. As a matter of fact, Sis Aisa Husin who just graduated thereat last 10 May 2012 with the degree of BS Pharmacy was indeed a niqaabi since sophomore level in UZ.

The UZ-Niqaabi Alumna cum Predecessor

Photo of Sis Aisa Husin, a BS Pharmacy niqaabi graduated at UZ last May 10, 2012

Moreover, please be informed that through an email message dated May 27, 2010, Thursday in response to our lobby on Right to Education as well as Right to Freedom of Religion within the university, the late President and CEO of Universidad de Zamboanga Sir ARTURO "Ammar" EUSTAQUIO III, positively responded thru a succinct declaration that he has made:  

“UZ HAS NO POLICY PROHIBITING NIQAB”. 

However, even if the late President and CEO of Universidad de Zamboanga has declared so, some UZ personnel dared to defy his order. How woeful  that they did not heed his words while he was alive; how devastating that in his death indeed they even have more reason not to albeit we don't know the logic  in their  reasoning. It is exhilarating to learn that the late President and CEO of Universidad de Zamboanga was, Mashaa' Allah, a Hijaab-Niqaab defender in his lifetime, a Protector of Islam and Religious Freedom for ALL. 

In the recent article published by Philippine Daily Inquirer dated 11 May 2012, Friday, it is surprising to learn that even Malacañang has no policy that prohibits the Muslimat clad with niqaab and burqa to enter therein. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/191433/malacanang-has-no-policy-on-women-wearing-burqa 

Malacañang has no policy against guests wearing a burqa, a garment that except for her eyes covers a Muslim woman from head to foot, the head of the Presidential Security Group said Thursday.

Secretary Edwin Lacierda, Aquino’s spokesperson, said security protocols had been followed. “All guests were screened before entering the Palace following established protocols. There was no risk to President Aquino,” Lacierda said in a text message.

“Even with covered faces, identity was established and no deadly weapons were found in her bag or on her body,” he added.

Furthermore, not merely UZ and Malacanang palace protect the substantial rights of the niqaabi Muslimat, even Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) has recently allowed Muslimat Niqaabi to take PRC Licensure Examination despite fully clad with Niqaab by virtue of PRC Memorandum No. 2012-02 Re: Wearing of Veils of Muslim Womens Taking Licensure Examination dated January 24, 2012 issued by Commissioner Alfredo Y. Po, OIC PRC, provided that:

1.) At the time of filing of aplication to take the licensure examination, the niqaabi Muslim women shall be required  to have her photos taken showing the whole face with complete name tag. The photos shall be pasted on the application form, permanent examination and registration record card (PERRC) and Notice of Admission (NOA). A female application processor or issuing officer shall view the face of the applicant.

2.) During the licensure examination, inside the examination room, a female room watcher/proctor shall view the face of the niqaabi Muslim woman and compare the same with the pictures on the PERRC and NOA to ensure proper identification.

Moreover, this order is applicable to all Muslimat Niqaabi across Philippines and in all courses that need to take for a licensure examinations in PRC.

May we continue to uphold and abide the law in consonance with and respect to the inalienable rights of all Muslim Filipinos.

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