Philippines official calls for Muslim ID cards

Officials in the Philippines have suggested introducing special ID cards for Muslims as the army battles an Islamic State militant group (ISIS) insurgency. Aaron Aquino, a chief superintendent in the country’s central Luzon district, said a country-wide register of Muslims could help authorities identify “undesirable individuals and terrorists.” A majority Christian country, around 11 percent […]

Officials in the Philippines have suggested introducing special ID cards for Muslims as the army battles an Islamic State militant group (ISIS) insurgency.

Aaron Aquino, a chief superintendent in the country’s central Luzon district, said a country-wide register of Muslims could help authorities identify “undesirable individuals and terrorists.” A majority Christian country, around 11 percent of the Philippines’ 10.7 million population are Muslim.

“This system is a good practice [taken] from Paniqui, Tarlac, and we want this to be replicated in all Muslim communities in the whole region for easy and efficient identification of our Muslim brothers and sisters,” Aquino said, referencing a town where the special ID cards are already used.

Aqino said that local Muslim community leaders were not against the idea of ID cards.

Human right watchdog, Human Rights Watch has described the move as “collective punishment.” In an article published on their website, the watchdog said the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which the Philippines subscribes to prohibits discrimination based on religion.  (newsweek)