‘Humankind is insensitive’ to Myanmar violence: Erdoğan

Humankind is “insensitive” to the ongoing violence against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Friday.

Speaking to media in Istanbul at the first day of the Eid al-Adha, Erdogan stated that hundreds of Rohinghya Muslims were killed, their villages were burnt and 20,000 stranded people have been crossing into Bangladesh by leaving their homes behind.

“All of these are happening in front of eyes of all humankind but unfortunately humankind is insensitive to them,” he said.

Eid al-Adha, known as the feast of the sacrifice, recognizes Ibrahim’s submission to God in his willingness to sacrifice his son.

“I, as the rotating president of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation, held necessary talks with leaders of the Islamic countries and UN Secretary General [Antonio] Guterres as well.”

He said that Muslim world is saddened while marking Eid al-Adha because of violence in Myanmar, conflicts in Syria and Iraq, and fight against terrorism in Turkey.

Violence erupted in Myanmar’s Rakhine State on Aug. 25 when the country’s security forces launched an operation against Rohingya Muslim community. It triggered a fresh influx of refugees towards neighboring Bangladesh though the country sealed off its border for the refugees.

Media reports said Myanmar security forces used disproportionate force, displacing thousands of Rohingya villagers and destroying their homes with mortars and machine guns.

The region has seen simmering tension between its Buddhist and Muslim populations since communal violence broke out in 2012.

A security clampdown launched in October last year in Maungdaw, where Rohingya form the majority, led to a UN report on human rights violations by security forces that indicated crimes against humanity.

The UN documented mass gang-rape, killings -- including that of babies and young children -- brutal beatings and disappearances. Rohingya representatives have said approximately 400 people were slain during the operation.