In an opinion piece published by Al Jazeera, the founder of the Burma Human Rights Network said that nine years after Myanmar’s military drove hundreds of thousands of Rohingya from their homes, the persecution has not ended. The Rohingya remain stateless, face continuing violence, and risk death while fleeing by sea. The OIC, which has made Muslim solidarity central to its mission, has held summits and passed resolutions but has failed to protect them, the author argued.
The author noted that survivors of massacres who gave evidence in The Hague relived the worst moments of their lives trusting their testimony would matter. Many remain in Bangladesh, dependent on food assistance worth as little as $7 per person per month. According to UNHCR data cited in the piece, one in seven Rohingya who attempted sea crossings last year was reported dead or missing.
The OIC backed the ICJ case, and the author now addresses the foreign ministers gathering in Baghdad, urging them to refuse to forcibly return Rohingya to Myanmar, protect those who reach their territory, sustain support for refugees in Bangladesh, and agree on diplomatic and economic measures against those responsible for the persecution. The author said some governments that speak about the Rohingya in international meetings do not offer the same protection to those who arrive at their borders. Bangladesh hosts 1.2 million Rohingya and has faced years of pressure to send them back. The OIC must also challenge abuses against the Rohingya by governments outside its membership.