Free circumcision for Marawi IDPs

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, April 26, 2018: In collaboration with the city government of Marawi headed by mayor Majul U. Gandamra, the provincial government of Lanao del Sur, the United Islamic Cultural Centre of the Philippines, the Joint Task Force Marawi and the Joint Task Force Tabang, an international foundation in Turkey came to Marawi recently to extend free circumcision services to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of the Marawi siege. 

The International Fraternity Association (IFA), a foundation based in Turkey, conducted said three-day free services using modern facility like Kotery which is painless and no bleeding. It was held April 24, 25 and 26 at the provincial gymnasium in the provincial capitol complex here.

Some 1,200 beneficiaries are expected to serve in three days, or 400 a day.

It is learned that aside from medical missions and services, IFA is also helping children who want to study in Islamic education. “We are granting scholarship to our students in our country,” said a leader who came to Marawi. “We are also giving relief program for helping the IDPs.”

He said that UNICEP is a foundation established here since 2009 jointly by Turkish and Filipino volunteers to develop social program for Filipino young Muslims. 

He said they have two branches in Cebu and right now there are a total of 54 students like Toril (Boarding Islamic school) and Madrasah. “They are studying in our madrasah for 2 to 3 years and if they pass in our exam,” he pointed out, “they will study in Turkey with scholarship grant.” 

Age limit for scholars is from 12 to 17 years.

The free circumcision program is the first activity the IFA conducted in Marawi City and it is aimed to do it every year with other programs to help local Muslims after the Marawi siege. - RSP