Qaanitah Hunter- Cii News- August 14, 2012

The public voice is pivotal in all matters of human rights violations and similarly in the case of the persecution of Muslims by Burmese authorities.

As the situation against the Rohingya Muslims intensifies, there are calls for public submission to the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), who will be meeting next week in Saudi Arabia for an emergency summit to address the crisis.

Tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims have now fled to neighbouring Bangladesh, but the government there is blocking aid saying the refugees ‘aren’t Bangladesh’s responsibility’.

Public petition website Avaaz.com has designed a petition to pressure Bangladesh to reverse course and offer Ramadan relief to those in need.

Avaaz said that the OIC could push Bangladesh, a member of the 57 nation body, to reverse the aid ban and rescue the Rohingya.

“OIC Chief Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu will urge Bangladesh to show mercy and compassion towards Rohingya refugees and could offer financial backing, but he needs a strong show of public support to make Bangladesh heed his call,” the website said.

The violent campaign against the Rohingya Muslims by Burmese extremists has displaced hundreds of thousands over the last two months, with many killed and raped.

They hope to reach a 50 000 signature goal to submit to the OIC.

Avaaz said that while global attention is focused on Burma, intense pressure needs to be placed on world bodies and governments to call for an end to the torture and violence.

“The UN and the US have already called upon Bangladesh to protect the Rohingya. Now as the holy month of Ramadan comes to an end, a special occasion for helping the vulnerable and feeding the hungry, let’s also push governments in the region to urge Bangladesh to show true compassion,” they said.

To sign the petition click here.