Turkish president calls on UN to stop barbarity against Rohingya Muslims

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who spoke with UN General Secretary Antonio Guterres on Wednesday, said that in order to stop the crisis in Myanmar the UN must intervene and the international community must take action.

More than 18,000 Rohingya Muslims, many sick and some with bullet wounds, have fled the worst violence to grip northwest Myanmar in at least five years. Thousands of Rohingya Muslims are stuck at the Bangladesh border or scrambling to reach it.

The United Nations has pressured Myanmar to protect civilian lives without discrimination and appealed to Bangladesh to admit those fleeing the military counteroffensive.

The Rohingya are denied citizenship in Myanmar and regarded as illegal immigrants, despite claiming roots that date back centuries.

Erdoğan said it was unacceptable for security forces to use the attack in the Rakhine state on Aug. 25 as a guise to target Rohingya Muslims and use disproportionate force against civilians.

President Erdoğan pointed out that it is necessary to put pressure on the Myanmar government by using all mechanisms available and stated that Turkey is providing humanitarian aid and is ready to increase this assistance.

He noted that Turkey was in contact with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and the Organization for Islamic Cooperation as well as the United States, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Bangladesh through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Erdoğan said that the Myanmar administration must be directed toward acting with common sense.

Guterres thanked Erdoğan for his awareness and sensitivity toward the situation and provided information regarding the steps taken to end the crisis.

President Erdoğan and UN Secretary General Guterres agreed to remain in touch regarding efforts to resolve the crisis.