OIC secretary general condemns spreading of violence against Muslims in Myanmar

The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu strongly condemned the recent spreading of the violence against Muslims in Myanmar at the hands of extremist Buddhists. Violence in Arakan in the West of the country continues uninterrupted since last June and has spread to other cities and areas, particularly in the Miektila city in the Mandalay region in the middle of the country.As a result of this violence, scores of Muslims were killed and their homes and properties burnt, in addition to the burning of eight mosques and a number of schools. Hundreds of families fled their homes. Such violence should not continue.The Secretary General expresses concern over the Myanmar government\'s failure to protect the lives of its innocent civilians. It is the responsibility of the authorities to address the root causes of the issue and safeguard the lives and property of all the peoples of Myanmar.The OIC Secretary General recalled Resolutions passed by the two Summits in Makkah August, 2012, Cairo February, 2013, as well as the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in Djibouti November, 2012, seeking an end to repression against the Muslim Minority in Myanmar with particular reference to the right of citizenship for Rohingya Muslims in the Arakan Region.