MECCA / ISLAMABAD: July 17, 2015. (PCP) Today, when the Muslims around the world are celebrating the holy festival of Eid-ul-Fitr, the day could also serve as a reminder to support the fellow Muslims facing oppression, especially the Rohingya Muslims, who are fleeing persecution and state terrorism in Myanmar’s western Rakhine state. This was stated by President of Global Rohingya Center, Shiekh Abdullah Salamat Maruf, in a special message issued on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitar, while wishing that this Eid would bring joys, happiness and peace in every Muslim home.
Although majority of the Rohingyas live in their native land, Myanmar, but they have been denied citizenship by a 1982 citizenship law and due to this cruel act, they are unable to travel, own land and property, and fulfill religious responsibilities, he regretted, adding that like previous years, not a single Masjid was allowed by the authorities, this Ramadan, to be functional in the Rohingya Muslim areas of Myanmar.
“Rohingya Muslims are forced to spend the Holy Month of Ramadan without Azan, Salat, Talawat, Taraweeh, and Juma Prayers, even they are not allowed to offer funeral prayers,” Shiekh Abdullah Maruf further said in his message, appealing for not forgetting the poor, needy, oppressed and suffering Rohingya Muslim brother and sisters, who are at the mercy of human traffickers.
Global Rohingya Center also urged the International Community for convincing Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and neighboring countries to provide humanitarian support with the basic necessities of life to the Rohingya Muslims fleeing Myanmar through sea to enter their territory, and putting diplomatic pressure on the Myanmar Government to recognize the Rohingya Muslims as ethnic minority group by granting all citizen rights, he concluded.