How Hadji was bullied by his classmates because he is a Muslim

Hadji is a soft-spoken and incredibly shy introvert who transforms into a KDA machine when he’s in-game. For the first time, he talks about his life: his dreams as a child, his shyness, and growing up as a Muslim in the Philippines.

“Ang pangarap ko po noong bata ako, maging hacker,” Hadji reveals to us.

“Ano ulit? Hacker?” we had to make sure we heard it right.

“Opo.”

“Bakit?”

“Eh… kasi bata pa po ako noon…” he says. Hadji has a fascination with computers and computer games at a very young age.

“Tahimik lang po ako, introverted. Mahilig po ako mag computer games, nilalaro ko po, yung mga games sa Facebook dati katulad ng Farmville, Dragon City.”

He also loves playing basketball, but ever since he became famous as the KDA Machine of Blacklist International, he could not do it anymore. He is afraid of people watching him play and becomes quite conscious.

“Mahilig po ako mag basketball pero ngayon hindi ko na po nagagawa, kasi kapag may mga nanonood sa akin, nahihiya po ako.”

Hadji realized he was famous when people started recognizing him in public. They would call out to him and ask for selfies, to which the young mid-laner would oblige. For Hadji, these moments are mixture of unease and pleasure.

“Introvert po kasi ako. Hindi po ako sanay makipag-usap sa mga tao.”

But despite feeling uncomfortable around strangers and crowds, he never turns down requests for photos and shoutouts. He also never misses on his po and opo, regardless of who he speaks with.

Hadji is a Muslim whose parents hail from Mindanao but he was raised in Manila. His father is from Marawi, and his mother is from Tugaya, both places bordering the great lake of Lanao. Hadji grew up in a household that devoutly observes Islamic practices, such as Salah, a ritual prayer that Muslims pray five times a day.

“Every day po kami nagsa-Salah, five times a day po. Araw-araw po iyon, pero ang parang Sunday po namin ay Friday,” Hadji tells SPIN.ph.

“Hindi po kami kumakain ng pork, bawal po. Kahit yung mantika na pinagprituhan ng pork, bawal po kami kumain ng food na ipinrito doon.”

Apart from restrictions on pork and any ingredient contaminated by it, Hadji also abstains from alcohol, and any activities that might expose him to such things, like going to G-Side.

“Hindi po ako sumasama kapag may mga gimik sa G-Side, inalis ko na po iyon sa buhay ko,” Hadji says.

PHOTO: MOONTON Games

Salic “Hadji” Imam was born on April 26, 2003, a turbulent time for Muslims around the world. Just two years prior, the horrific attacks on America on September 11, 2001 changed the world forever. The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City came crashing down after two jumbo jets flew into each tower. The terrorist attacks worsened the prejudice and discrimination against Muslims, thanks to the radical groups who committed the terrorist acts in the name of Islam. The U.S.-led “War on Terror” that started in 2001 as a result of the 9/11 Attacks was waged against predominantly Muslim countries, and spilled over to the southern region of the Philippines where Hadji’s parents lived.

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At the time, many people feared Muslims because of the wrong notion that Islam supports terrorism. More than a decade later, Muslims still encounter hatred and bullying because of that notion. Hadji was one such victim of religious bullying, a type of discrimination against people of another religion.

“Na-experience ko po noong nag-aaral ako noong elementary ako, nasasaktan po ako kasi sinasabi ng mga classmates ko, kapag Muslim, terorista daw.”

Hadji’s voice falters as he recalls this piece of memory. His eyes betray his anguish.

“Hindi naman po talaga totoo iyon. Parang… Ba’t gano’n yung tingin nila?”

It was a rhetorical question that even Hadji has found no answer to this day.

“Ba’t gano’n yung tingin nila sa mga Muslim? Mababait naman po ang mga Muslim. “Parehas lang din ang Muslim at Kristiyano. Sana huwag nilang lahatin na kapag Muslim, masamang tao na.”

Every day in school, Hadji would endure the torments of his classmates calling him a bad person and a terrorist. He was 11 years old. He could not understand it then, and he cannot understand it now—how could people be so cruel because of something they knew so little about?

“Nasasaktan po ako. Hindi ko po alam ang sasabihin ko kasi po…”

Hadji was at a loss for words.

“Pinapabayaan ko na lang po. Parang gusto ko pong ano…” He hesitates for a moment.

“Parang gusto ko po gantihan.”

But he never did. At the young age of 11, Hadji knew better than to seek revenge on his bullies and tormentors.

Hadji kept all these things to himself, until now.

Religious bullying against Muslims involves prejudiced attitudes, discrimination, and harassment rooted in Islamophobia. It manifests through hate speech, physical violence, or marginalization, and targeting individuals based on their Islamic beliefs. Addressing this issue requires fostering understanding, education, and promoting religious tolerance and respect for diversity.

Muslims often exemplify kindness in their interactions, striving to create a world of understanding, harmony, and benevolence for all—things that were taught to Hadji by his parents and his faith.

In a world often defined by its challenges, Muslims stand as beacons of kindness and empathy. Hadji’s quiet strength and compassion demonstrate that true power lies in understanding, love, and embracing diversity, one act of kindness at a time.

Watch the video of our interview with Hadji below: