Genocide in Myanmar

19 July 2012 | 21:32 Code : 1904411 From Other Media

Summary of an article by Shahab Moradi for Khabar Online

These days, genocide is being conducted in Myanmar with the utmost brutality and defenseless Muslims are butchered in the hands of their country’s soldiers. Based on limited reports, more than 52,000 people have been killed so far and more than 5000 Muslim women have been raped and innocent children are being burnt alive. People’s homes and more than 22 mosques have been set on fire and destroyed. About 30,000 people have been kidnapped, for whom, after several days of torture, nothing else can be imagined except group burial or burning in fire and …, as it happened in Bosnia. This is only part of the catastrophe; another part is the 200,000 calamity-stricken and hungry refugees who neighboring countries refuse to accept.

Believing this much violence and brutality is truly difficult. Watching only pictures of these tragic scenes brings tears to our eyes. I wish Muslims were united and used their power to support any oppressed human being. Silence and indifference, at this time, is a huge sin and against the principles of being a Muslim.

The issue is a state-sponsored genocide; a horrific crime to which international reactions have no relation to the volume of such a humanitarian catastrophe! It is expected that the Foreign Ministry not lose its slightest diplomatic capacities and actively utilize all its capacities to consult other countries particularly Islamic countries and international organizations such as United Nations and Organization of Islamic Cooperation. It should, for instance, seriously call on the OIC to put this important issue on its agenda and convene an emergency meeting about it.

Another way to confront this crime is to convince world public opinion, particularly Muslims, and to seek their support for calling on their government officials to conduct concerted diplomatic measures to address this issue. In this context, the role of our media, in particular Radio and Television, NGOs, student associations, social networks, religious personalities, international religious organizations and international scientific, artistic and sportive figures and …, is of paramount importance. Nobody should keep silent even if his/her voice is not heard.

However, time is of the essence because the news about Olympic Games will, as always, attract world public opinion, including Muslims, more than other issues and like other similar instances the ground for continuation and intensification of the violence will be prepared.

The holy month of Ramadan provides a good opportunity all over the world to inform Muslims and seek their effective material and spiritual political and social support, including prayer for Myanmar refugees and other oppressed Muslims.