Senator Robinhood “Robin” C. Padilla protested the improper depiction of the Holy Ka’aba as a pet stroller or cart in a recent pet fashion show held at a mall in Quezon City recently.
In a letter to the mall’s management, Padilla said the Holy Ka’aba is a blessed structure that bears great significance in the Islamic faith and is a sacred site during religious pilgrimages.
“While the audio from the said video is proof that the contestant was acting in good faith and that there was no intention of offending anyone, we cannot undermine the fact that the act of using the blessed structure as a pet stroller had hurt the Muslim community,” he said in his letter.
Padilla, a Muslim, chairs the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs.
He also reminded the mall management that the Ka’aba was built by Prophet Abraham and his son Prophet Ishmael as a house of worship for all mankind.
“May this experience, however unfortunate, be an opportunity to widen perspective and promote understanding of various religious beliefs and practices, befitting the great intent for which this Holy structure is built,” he said.
Also, Padilla stressed it is incumbent on the event organizers and mall management “to observe social and cultural sensitivity and appropriateness in every public event.”
“It is in this regard that I believe the Muslim community deserves nothing less than a public apology from the group/s behind the event,” he said.
“In the spirit of understanding and respect, I sincerely hope that your office will be more circumspect on programs that may offend or tend to offend religious faithfuls in our country,” he added.