Ulamas in Marawi City ‘punish’ women who violate dress code

MARAWI CITY — A group of Islamic preachers here have been strictly enforcing a dress code for Muslim women, painting the heads of those caught roaming around without a hijab, the traditional head cover, with turpentine-based colors.

Participants to the three-day congress here of the Ulama League of the Philippines (ULP), which ends today, confirmed the practice, disclosing that three Muslim women were, in fact, "punished" the other day, their heads daubed with enamel paint, for violating the dress code.

"My cousin was among those whose heads were painted earlier by these religious leaders," a local resident told The STAR.

Two alimas or women preachers, who belong to the ULP, said the ulamas (Muslim religious leaders) are also "punishing" women who wear tight jeans.

"Ginupit-gupit nila ang mga pantalon ng mga babaeng kanilang nahuhuli (They cut the pants of those whom they catch)," said one of the alimas.

The local police declined to comment on the practice.

The city government has long been using the "Islamic City of Marawi" as its administrative and geographical name and, as such, has been enforcing various ordinances upholding Islamic traditions, including a ban on the sale of liquor and forbidden food such as pork.

Moviehouses here shut down four years ago after religious leaders intensified their campaign against the showing of films which contained "lustful scenes" which, they believe, degraded the stature and dignity of women.

None of these issues were discussed in the sessions of the congress being held at the government-run Mindanao State University.

Meanwhile, a bloc of Islamic theologians are worried that President Arroyo might use the support of the 1,300-member ULP for Malacañang’s peace efforts in the South to make a pitch for the anti-terrorism bill.

"We are praying hard that this will not happen. Muslim communities are the ones that will be adversely affected if that bill becomes a law and is (used) by unscrupulous sectors against Muslims," said Alim Khair Hanafi.