Maradeka

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Maradeka is a pro-democracy Islamic political organization which espouses non-violent political action,^[1] and is based in the Philippines. The organization has been active against a backdrop of over 40 years of armed Muslim insurgency, mounted by the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)^[2]and Moro Islamic Liberation Front^[3][4] (MILF) in their quest for self-rule. These groups emerged following popular dissent with the Philippine government, and their treatment of the Muslim minority as second class citizens, which caused extensive suffering. These years of social, economic, and political inequities are known as the 'Mindanao problem'.^{[5] [6]}

The term Maradeka is rooted in the Malay word merdeka,^[7] meaning freedom or liberation, and was adopted as the name of the umbrella freedom alliance of 72 Bangsamoro civil and political organizations. These include Task Force Mindanao, Alternative Muslim Mindanao Entrepreneurial Dev't, Inc (AMMENDI), Basilan Solidarity, Organization of Maguindanaon and Iranon, Bangsamoro Consultative Assembly, Bangsamoro Supreme Council of Ulama (BSCU), Maradeka Youth, Bangsa Iranun Muslim Advocates for Peace, Inc., Ittihadun As-Shabab Al-Muslimeen, Karitan Foundation Inc., Mindanao Peace Observers, Manila Peace Zone Community Association (MAPZCA), and Mindanao War Victims.

Maradeka derives its strength from grassroot communities, citizens action and consensus building through regional people's assemblies (RPA) held in various regions in the Philippines, such as Mindanao and Sulu, Central Luzon and Calabarzon. In addition, the group articulates voices of the marginalized Moro people, democratic dialogues, participatory community consultations (shura), social and political advocacy campaigns, and launches mass actions to organise protests, appeals, and demands on various legal issues and policies affecting Muslim people in the Philippines.