NCMF files hijab complaint vs Iligan college

COTABATO CITY — The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) has filed a complaint with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) against Iligan Medical Center College (IMCC). Muslim nursing students say the college has required them to remove their hijabs during certain school activities.

NCMF Region 10 filed the complaint with CHED Region 10 on Nov. 4. Students said they had been told to remove their hijabs at their capping and investiture ceremony and during clinical duty.

In a statement on Saturday, IMCC denied barring the hijab. "Throughout its 51-year history, IMCC has never enforced any policy prohibiting the hijab on campus," the college said.

NCMF-10 said it went to CHED only after its attempts at dialogue failed. The regional office first met with the dean of the IMCC College of Nursing to explain the religious significance of the hijab and ask that the restriction be lifted. It then wrote to the college's president and Board of Directors seeking a meeting. That request was not granted, according to NCMF-10, and the restriction remained in place.

The Medical Muslim Student Association (MMSA) and religious advocates in the region have also called on the college to respect the religious practice of Muslim women.

Ustadz Abdul Jabbar Montañer, director of Al-Jalis As-Salih Inc., one of the complainants, said his group talked with current Muslim nursing students, alumni and others affected. They found that the problem had gone on for years. Montañer said the group also spoke with prospective students who decided not to enroll at IMCC after learning they might have to remove their hijabs.

"All we ask is that Muslim women be allowed to pursue their education without being forced to remove their hijabs," Montañer said in a statement in Filipino. He said his group has asked for a private dialogue with the college's management.

IMCC said it was concerned about online threats, harassment and calls for violence against the school that followed the controversy. The college said people have a right to express their views, but "discourse and differences of perspective must never compromise the safety, well-being, or peace of mind of our students and personnel." It asked the public not to spread unverified information and called for constructive dialogue.

NCMF-10 is headed by Regional Director Dr. Abdulnasser Masorong Jr. It said students deserve schools where their faith is respected and where policies promote fairness and inclusion.

The NCMF was created under Republic Act No. 9997 to protect the rights and promote the welfare of Muslim Filipinos.

IMCC is a private college in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte.