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Our Efforts In Support of Rohingya Muslims --- ?
9-06-2017
To describe the efforts in support of the “Most Persecuted People on Earth” can be very controversial. In one word, it is irrelevant. Muslims in general have been ineffective in their efforts to deter the onslaught of ethnic cleansing that is taking place in Burma since 2012. Had we been relevant the genocide would not have continued for the last 5 years. For Far too long we have been unresponsive and our efforts insignificant despite having the capacity to stop the Buddhist dominated Junta to wreak havoc on the 1.2 Million Rohingya Muslims.
It is disheartening to see the utter silence on the part of the many media outlets and governments to openly register their protest on an international level with Myanmar about the ongoing genocide that is taking place. Although few world leaders have spoken out they have not been able to put a plan together to stop the mass slaughter of the Rohingya’s. Recently some media outlets have started to cover the story, but that too with little context.
One would beg to ask, where are the Muslims? Well Muslims are busy minding their own business. Muslim Organizations, Leaders and Governments have been completely aloof or mute in their responses for the last 5 years. They offer only band aid solutions. In General Irrelevant.
The only solution available to the Rohingya is death as shahada. Back in 2012, Kala, a 75-year-old Arakanese who has been in Bangladesh refugee camps for many years, describes the plight of Rohingya Muslims and refugees’ despair saying, “We are waiting for death that will lessen our suffering.”
Western powers do not really have any financial interests or gains, by intervening in Burma’s internal affairs or civil unrest, thus they remain completely oblivious to the massacre. But what about the Muslims.
To make the matters more disastrous, Bangladesh not only has been disallowing entrance to refugees that have been coming into the neighboring country but also returning those who arrived in the campsites in the past years.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavusoglu has called on Bangladesh to open its doors to Rohingya Muslims fleeing violence in Myanmar's western Rakhine state. Speaking at a Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Eid al-Adha celebration event in the Mediterranean province of Antalya, Çavusoglu reiterated Turkey's call to Bangladesh to open its doors to Rohingya people, and said that Turkey would pay all the expenses.
"We have also mobilized the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. We will hold a summit regarding the Rakhine state this year. We need to find a decisive and permanent solution to this problem," the minister added.
He said that no other Muslim country other than Turkey is showing sensitivity towards the massacres happening in Myanmar.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Myanmar of “genocide” against the Rohingya Muslim minority, who have fled in the tens of thousands across the border into Bangladesh to escape ethnic violence.
“There is a genocide there,” Erdogan said in a speech in Istanbul during the Islamic Eid al-Adha feast.
“Those who close their eyes to this genocide perpetuated under the cover of democracy are its collaborators.”
In terms of humanitarian aid in the world, Turkey ranks 2nd after the United States with $6 billion and $6.3 billion respectively, Çavusoglu added.
The UN Security Council met behind closed doors on August 30th to discuss the violence but there was no formal statement.
Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, the democratically elected civilian leader of Burma, happens to be one of the only six “Honorary Canadian Citizens.” During her last trip to Canada, According to CBC, “Trudeau made no mention of the Rohingya situation during a brief public photo-op with Suu Kyi as the two exchanged pleasantries in his office.”
Most recently on September 5th, Trudeau on his twitter handle stated, “Canada is deeply concerned by the flow of refugees from Myanmar & reports of serious abuse against the Rohingya. Civilians must be protected.”
Trudeau Response was expected as the Muslims finally decided to say something, on social media platforms and organizing petitions on line to strip Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi of her Canadian Honorary Citizenship. He did not mention anything about her Honorary status or the money His office had pledged to Myanmar in the amount of $8.8 million. It would be naïve to think the Burmese Government will be using $8.8 million in humanitarian assistance to promote "peace and stability" programs, including human rights.”
The only way to get the Canadian government to intervene would be by mobilizing our efforts and contacting our respective MP’s and demanding that they raise this issue with the government and send a strong signal and message that Canada does not tolerate Genocide and Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi’s Honorary Citizenship should be taken away.
Lets us not forget the teachings of Prophet Mohammed, Our duty as Muslims, is to fight the evil, if we cannot, than at least speak out against it, and even if we lack that much of courage than at least consider it as evil and that is the lowest form of faith.
Lastly but not the least we pray to Allah to protect and defend Muslims and non-Muslims victims of unjustified war, ethnic cleansing, genocide, or persecution of any form – granting them strength and patience to bear the unjustified persecutions.
May Allah bring joy, happiness, and blessings to you, your families, friends, and loved ones.
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