College hijab policy sparks religious freedom row in Mindanao

ILIGAN CITY — An alleged prohibition on wearing hijabs at a college in this city has ignited controversy across Northern Mindanao, prompting the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) to lodge a formal complaint with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

The dispute centers on the college's dress code policy, which allegedly restricts Muslim students from wearing the traditional Islamic headscarf. The issue has drawn the attention of religious leaders and civil rights advocates in the region, who view the restriction as discriminatory and contrary to constitutional protections for religious practice.

The NCMF's intervention represents an escalation of the dispute, bringing the matter before the nation's higher education regulatory body. The commission's action underscores ongoing tensions in the Philippines regarding religious accommodation in educational institutions, particularly in regions with significant Muslim populations.

The case reflects broader national discussions about balancing institutional policies with individual rights to religious expression. Education officials are expected to review the college's dress code provisions as part of CHED's assessment of the complaint.