The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) on August 2 sent letters to the governments of Myanmar and Bangladesh seeking protection for Rohingya Muslims who are facing a renewed wave of ethnic and religious persecution. The CAIR also urged the international community to address the suffering of the almost one million Rohingya in Myanmar (formerly Burma), as well as those who have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh.
According to Human Rights Watch (HRW) Report on the humanitarian crisis released on August 1: “Burmese security forces committed killings, rape, and mass arrests against Rohingya Muslims after failing to protect both them and Arakan Buddhists during deadly sectarian violence in western Burma in June 2012. Government restrictions on humanitarian access to the Rohingya community have left many of the over 100,000 people displaced and in dire need of food, shelter, and medical care.” Even when Rohingya Muslims are able to flee to the relative safety of Bangladesh, they face hostility and rejection. Today, Bangladeshi authorities ordered three international aid agencies not to help the Rohingyas fleeing to that nation.
In its letter to Myanmar President Thein Sein, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad wrote in part: “Your government must take urgent steps to end human rights violations by its security forces and to allow unimpeded access for relief organizations and international monitors seeking to enter affected areas. Once calm is restored, Myanmar must revise its 1982 Citizenship Law, which effectively denies citizenship to Rohingya Muslims. We urge you to cooperate with the international community to take immediate measures to address the ongoing killings and abuse of Rohingya Muslims.”