Russian Muslim Leader Urges World Attention to Plight of Rohingya Muslims
Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin described the news about "persecution and massacre of our religious brothers and sisters in Myanmar” as deplorable and reminded the global community of the conditions the Rohingya Muslims are going through and their call for help.
Despite protests to Myanmar government and officials and efforts by other countries for providing humanitarian help, the mass killing of civilians continues in the Southeast Asian country, he deplored.
The Russian Muslim leader called on everyone to pray for the persecuted Muslim group that is facing ethnic cleansing.
The Rohingya, described as "the world’s most persecuted minority,” have been denied citizenship in Myanmar, which has effectively rendered them stateless.
Myanmar’s government has laid a siege to the western state of Rakhine, where the Rohingya Muslims are concentrated.
There, horrific violence, including killing, rape and torching property, has been taking place against the minority Muslims, according to reports and eyewitnesses.
Soldiers and extremist Buddhists have reportedly been killing or raping the Muslims and setting their homes on fire.
Myanmar's government says 400 people, mostly Muslims, have died in the latest bout of violence. The UN says the actual number likely tops 1,000.
So far, the global community has failed to take action against the "ethnic cleansing” of the Rohingya and to immediately demand an end to the atrocities.
