Afghan Taliban Called on Muslims Worldwide to Not Forget Rohingya People

The Afghan Taliban which is blamed for killing civilians, including women and children, in its campaign against the U.S. government, condemned Myanmar’s campaign of “ethnic cleansing” and urged Muslims worldwide to not forget the oppressed Rohingya Muslims in their hour of need.

“We welcome the statements of support for the Muslims of Burma by those governments of the Islamic world, organizations, media and individuals who have raised their voices,” the group said in a statement. “We similarly call on Muslims worldwide to not forget these oppressed brothers of yours.”

“Gird your loins for the defence, rescue, sanctuary and every type of aid to them and perform your obligation of Islamic sympathy towards them to your utmost extent,” the Taliban told the Islamic countries in the statement.

The statement further added, “The international media have not properly broadcasted the genocide of Muslims of Burma and neither has the Human Right Watch given it any serious attention. In our view this is not only unfair and deplorable but is in conflict with the call of humanity and humanitarian sympathy.”

The Afghan government also condemned the “massacre” by Myanmar’s forces and urged the U.N. and human rights organizations to investigate the attacks.

The Rohingya are a mainly Muslim stateless ethnic minority who according to rights groups have faced decades of persecution in mainly Buddhist Myanmar.

The Rohingya whom Myanmar characterizes as illegal immigrants even though many have lived there for generations are denied citizenship and have faced an escalating campaign of violence by security forces and Buddhist groups since 2012.

The recent violence, which kicked off last October when a small Rohingya militant group ambushed border posts, is the worst Rakhine has witnessed in years with the UN saying Myanmar’s army may have committed ethnic cleansing in its response.