Hataman slams killing of Canadian hostage in Sulu

COTABATO CITY – Regional Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao today condemned the brutal killing of Robert Hall, a Canadian national
held hostage by extremist Abu Sayyaf Group since September last year.

Hataman was
deeply saddened by the incident and called on all Muslims to let us stand
together as we build and rebuild our faith in the midst of those who try to
tear us apart.”

We express
our deepest condemnation against this act of pointless violence and terrorism,”
Hataman said in a statement released here Monday, hours after Hall was
reportedly beheaded after his family failed to meet the ransom demand by 3 p.m.

Hataman was
also sad because it happened barely a week since Ramadan began and it is
appalling that this holy month we set aside for prayer and reflection has been
already been violated by extremists here and abroad, as they wage violence in
the name of our faith.”

He told fellow
Muslims that the refuge and shelter we share as Muslims has become a strange
place for others. Extremists claim to follow the faith while they go against
Islam’s message of peace and humanity.”

Referring to
the extremist groups that operate mainly in Sulu, one of the five provinces of ARMM, Hataman
said their betrayal of Islam knows no bounds that even in the most holy days
of Ramadan, they turn a time meant for prayers and contemplation into days of
fear and horror.”

This is not
what Islam stands for, and we refuse to let this turn us against our fellow
Filipinos – not at a time when Ramadan teaches us sympathy, compassion, and
love,” the ARMM executive said.

He described
the Abu Sayyaf as people who tread the path of violence and claim to do it in
the name of Islam are, without question, merely men of sin who distort a faith
that stands for peace.”

They are not
our people,” he added.

As Muslims we
are taught that to kill one man means to kill all of humanity, and to save one
man means to save all of humanity. It is then imperative for us work to
together as Muslims in making sure that the criminals behind these acts of
violence are made accountable to our people in the courts of law, and to save
those who might fall into the hands of these men who do nothing but evil” Hataman
said.