Fasting Iranians Stage Sit-in In Front Of UN Office To Protest Massacre Of Myanmar Muslims

Tehran, July 29, IRNA – Hundreds of Basijis (volunteer forces) from on Sunday staged sit-in protest outside the UN office in Tehran against massacre of Myanmar Muslims. The fasting demonstrators condemned massacre of Myanmar Muslims and held international organizations and human rights associations accountable for the crimes. They chanted: “Down with the US,” “Down with Israel”, “Brutal massacre of Muslims is declaration of war on religion and Quran”, “Allah Akbar.” They called for unity among world Muslims and an immediate end to massacre of people. Amnesty International said on Friday that communal violence is grinding on in western Myanmar six weeks after the government declared a state of emergency there, and Muslim Rohingyas are increasingly being hit with targeted attacks that have included killings, rape, and physical abuse. To this end, Iran sent a letter of protest to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, calling on the international body to take firm action to stop the killing of Muslims in Myanmar and defend their rights. Copies of the letter were sent to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem (Navi) Pillay and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos. In his letter, the Iranian ambassador to the UN Mohammad Khazaee said oppression of Muslims in Myanmar has led to the killing of hundreds of innocent civilians, the demolition of mosques and houses, and the displacement of many people. He stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran believes that the ethnic cleansing of Muslims is unfair and unjustifiable under all international regulations and that the UN should take immediate action to implement the articles of the Charter of the United Nations and defend the fundamental rights of Muslim people in Myanmar by calling on the country’s government to take necessary measures to stop the oppression of Muslims. It is expected that the UN take firm action to stop the atrocities being committed in Myanmar, Khazaee added, noting that the silence of the international community in the face of the situation in Myanmar has contributed to the blatant violation of the fundamental rights of Muslims and international rights and will set a dangerous precedent in international relations. Elsewhere in his letter, the Iranian ambassador expressed hope that the government of Myanmar would help allay concerns of the international community through taking the measures necessary so that Muslim Rohingyas would be able to return to their homes and live in security./end