NSCIA, FOMWAN seek world leaders’ intervention in Rohingya massacre

The leadership of two Muslim groups – the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) has urged the world leaders to urgently intervene to check the wanton killings and massacre of Muslims in Rohingya.

In a statement by the Deputy Secretary-General of NSCIA, Professor Salisu Shehu, the killing is described “as a global tragedy and crime against humanity” while FOMWAN President, Alhaja Amina Omoti said failure of world leaders to act now, to save lives and bring an end to the violence in Rohingya would be tantamount to endorsement of violence against Muslims.

“The level of persecutions and the monumental brutalities being meted on such defenseless, helpless and downtrodden Muslim communities in the Rakhine State of the country amount to genocide in the real sense of it,” noted the Council.

Omoti, in a statement appealed to Muslims all over the world to exercise restraint, and pray fervently unto Allah to bring succour to those helpless Muslims under persecution wherever they may be on the globe.

She stated: “FOMWAN hereby calls on world leaders to speak up now. The present silence of notable world organizations like the United Nations, The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), and the African Unity, (Muslims and non-Muslims) on the persecution currently going on in Rohingya is not in the best interest of humanity. Presently many families have been shattered, many husbands killed, women and children slaughtered out of mere hatred.

“Let it be here categorically affirmed that the current failure of world leaders to act now, to save lives and bring an end to the violence in Rohingya, is dangerous.

“The response gotten by the Rohingya Muslims has been described as disproportionate – wiping out whole community, burning houses and killing several Rohingya Muslims is closer to genocide than anything else.

FOMWAN hereby appeal to dear Nobel Peace Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, to use her power and authority, through which she used to preach, that earned her the global recognition as “…an unflinching defender of human rights” to come to the rescue of women and children who are most hit by the current massacre.”

Referencing one of the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that ‘believers, in their mercy, compassion and sympathy for one another are like a single body….’, the NSCIA, on behalf of the entire Muslim Ummah in Nigeria condemns in strong terms such endless, intermittent and exterminatory cruelties against these weak and helpless human beings.

Specifically, the Council condemns, what it terms “apparent global conspiracy of silence on the matter as demonstrated by the reluctance of the United Nations and world leaders to convene a meeting of the Security Council and take the necessary measures against the government in Myanmar and its armed forces who for years have been notoriously descending on their villages to slaughter them and mercilessly drive them out of their homes and abodes.”

NSCIA also expressed perplex that such crimes against humanity “are taking place at a time when a supposedly Nobel Peace Laureate in person of Aung San Suu Kyi is at the helm of affairs in Myanmar. Aung San Suu Kyi has unfortunately appeared to be, in power and authority, the opposite of what she used to preach that earned her the global recognition as an unflinching defender of human rights.

“The NSCIA hereby uses this medium to call on the United Nations and world leaders to break their unworthy silence on these vicious atrocities , stir up to immediate action and do the needful to not only save human lives, dignity and honour but to also take the world out of this tragic embarrassment in the so-called 21st Century.”

Pointedly, the Council calls on the Myanmar Government to, “as a matter of urgency, bring an immediate end to it, to not only discharge its primary obligation of protecting and securing the lives of its citizens but also save its face from global shame and condemnation.”

Meanwhile, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community had earlier condemned the persecution of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar (Burma).The organization also urged the international community to help the Muslims in Myanmar attain their basic human rights and freedoms.

The World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifa (Caliph), His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: “All Ahmadi Muslims are extremely grief-stricken to hear of the cruel treatment inflicted upon the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and we pray that all of these cruelties and injustices come to an immediate end”.

He said that the fact that these Muslims are being targeted seemingly with impunity is a result of the division and sectarianism within the Muslim world itself. If there was unity amongst Muslim nations and communities, such tragedies would never unfold.

Masroor, hope and prayed that the international community comes together to help the Muslims in Myanmar and in this effort the Muslim nations should be at the forefront.

He prayed that the persecution of the Muslims in Myanmar, and indeed of all people who are denied their religious rights in the world, comes to an end.“We believe that all people should be free to practice their faith or beliefs without any fear and that all people should be equal under the law of their land.” He said.