Protesters denounce Rohingya Muslims massacre in Myanmar
July 27, 2012 - 16:18
Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and other countries to condemn the massacre of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.
Iranian worshippers across the country held demonstrations after Friday prayers to express their solidarity with Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar who are experiencing an appalling situation.
The demonstrators called on international organizations to take action to stop the killing of Muslims in Myanmar and urged Muslims all over the world to adopt a united stance in this regard.
The protesters also criticized the inaction of international human rights organizations on the issue of Myanmar.
The UN says decades of discrimination have left the Rohingyas stateless, with Myanmar implementing restrictions on their movement and withholding land rights, education and public services.
Large groups of Rohingyas have already sailed to neighboring Bangladesh, many of whom have died during the journey. The Bangladeshi government, however, deports Rohingyas calling them illegal migrants and the UN refugee center says it will not accept Rohingya Muslims as it is not interested in more refugees.
The government of Myanmar refuses to recognize Rohingyas, who it claims are not natives and classifies them as illegal migrants, although they have lived in the country for generations.
On July 19, Myanmar’s President Thein Sein said the "only solution" to the plight of Rohingya Muslims is to send the country’s nearly one million Muslims to a third country or UN-run refugee camps. However, the world body has ruled out setting up refugee camps to accommodate the Rohingyas.