JEDDAH: Persecution of the Rohingya minority of Myanmar represents one of the worst examples of ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) said after a fact-finding mission to Bangladesh.
Persecuted because of their race, religion and origin, the Rohingya minority of Myanmar continue to suffer severe and institutionalized human rights violations on a mass scale.
These comments were made at the end of a three-day fact-finding visit to Cox Bazar, Bangladesh, by the OIC-IPHRC.
In the absence of any positive response from the Myanmar authorities to repeated IPHRC requests to undertake a fact-finding visit to Rakhine State to ascertain the human rights situation on the ground, the IPHRC undertook a visit to Cox Bazar to meet Rohingya refugees and other stakeholders to get first-hand information on the situation faced by the Rohingya in Myanmar.
The IPHRC delegation squarely condemned the egregious human rights violations committed against the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, and declared it deplorable racist behavior, where a minority is abjectly discriminated against on the basis of race, religion and origin in all spheres of life, including their socio-economic and political rights.
It called upon the government of Myanmar to take firm steps to immediately end the violence against the Rohingya, bring the perpetrators of violence to justice, and take concrete steps to address the root causes of discrimination against the Rohingya through a human rights-based approach.
The commission also called on the international community in general, and OIC member states in particular, to do all they can to urge Myanmar to fulfill its international human rights obligations toward its Rohingya minority in a concrete and time-bound manner.
It urged them to extend all humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya population both internally displaced in Myanmar and those living in refugee camps in neighboring countries.
The IPHRC delegation extended its sincere appreciation to the government of Bangladesh for the unfettered access and full logistical support provided to undertake its mandated task with objectivity and neutrality.
A detailed report of the IPHRC delegation’s findings with concrete recommendations will be presented to the 45th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers for its consideration.
OIC human rights delegation urges Myanmar government to end violence against Rohingya population
OIC human rights delegation urges Myanmar government to end violence against Rohingya population
Saudi Cabinet hopes UAE forces will withdraw within 24 hours in accordance with Yemeni request
- Cabinet said it hoped the UAE will cease any military or financial support to the STC and any other party within Yemen
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet, chaired by King Salman, on Tuesday expressed hope that Emirati forces will withdraw from Yemen within 24 hours in accordance with a Yemeni request, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Cabinet also said it hoped the UAE will cease any military or financial support to the Southern Transitional Council and any other party within Yemen, SPA added.
The Cabinet said it also hoped that the UAE will take the necessary steps to preserve Saudi-Emirati relations which the Kingdom is keen to strengthen, and said it looks forward to working together toward everything that will enhance the prosperity and stability of countries of the region.
The Cabinet expressed its regret over the outcome of de-escalation efforts that the Kingdom has been keen to pursue, which have been met with an unjustified escalation that contradicts the principles upon which the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen was founded, undermines its efforts to achieve security and stability in Yemen, and is inconsistent with all the promises the Kingdom received from the UAE.
The Cabinet appreciates the role of the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen in protecting civilians in the governorates of Hadramaut and Al-Mahra in response to the request of the President of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Rashad Al-Alimi, and in reducing escalation in order to achieve security and stability and preventing the expansion of the conflict.
The Cabinet reaffirmed that the Kingdom will not hesitate to take necessary steps and measures to confront any infringement or threat to its national security, and its commitment to the security, stability and sovereignty of Yemen, and its full support for Al-Alimi and his government.
In other regional affairs, the Cabinet reaffirmed the Kingdom’s support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and safety of Somalia, and rejects the declaration of mutual recognition between Israel and Somaliland as it enshrines unilateral separatist measures that violate international law.
