Indian Muslim Community Asks For Stopping Attacks On Myanmar Muslims

New Delhi, Nov 10, IRNA – India’s apex Muslim body, Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind (JUH) asked for cessation of attacks on the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. In a letter, copy of which mailed to IRNA, addressed to Arab and other Muslim countries through their embassies in India, JUH’s General secretary Maulana Mahmood Madani called for exerting pressure on the Myanmar government for cessation of attack upon the Rohingya Muslims and protection of their life, liberty and property and an international inquiry into the recent violence, granting free access to humanitarian aid groups and international media. The letter also demanded restoration of citizenship rights which has been denied to the Rohingyas under citizenship law of 1982 which is incompatible with international human rights standards enshrined in UN charts and also against UN declarations. Referring to the UN report which dealt in details that more than 22,000 people from mainly Muslim community have been displaced in western Myanmar this month besides 75,000 people displaced by earlier clashes in June, he described the phenomenon as slow burning genocide, which aims at ethnic cleansing or driving the Rohingyas into Bangladesh. “The UN views in its report the Rohingyas as among the most persecuted stateless minorities on the planet:” He said. Madani expressed disappointment over the remarks of Suu Kyi in which she had denied to raise voice for the victims. “Such attitude from a Nobel Peace laureate was not expected. He also took exception to the Indian govt for its unreasonable silence over the violence despite being the major power in the region. Such attitude will diminish its prestige and image in South Asia and in the International community. Holding that the Myanmar Govt failed its duty to protect their life and property rather they are encouraging the forces leading the violence he expressed shock over the unfortunate remarks by the President Thien Sein disowning Rohingya Muslims as citizens of Myanmar whereas the UN declaration admits that the Rohingyas are an ethnic, religious and linguistic minority from western Burma. Historical facts also show that Rohingyas have been present in the land of Myanmar for centuries before the arrival of the British and before the formation of Burma. “Owing to this uncertain status of citizenship, the tens of thousands of Rohingyas fled to neighboring Bangladesh and India to escape the brutal attacks have ended up as unregistered refugees with little access to aid or assistance. They have been refused any aids. Scores of them are languishing in jail in Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia.” Maulana Madani also demanded the international community to acknowledge all those who have taken refuge in other countries as citizens of Myanmar enabling them to acquire refugee status and protection by UN agencies and influence upon the UN for setting a deadline for Myanmar to change its attitude. In case of non- abiding, it should be warned against the military action and economic blockage./end