30 October 2017•Update: 30 October 2017
By Safvan Allahverdi
WASHINGTON
Hundreds gathered in front of the White House on Sunday to protest the ongoing violence targeting the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar.
The nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organizations, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Muslim American Society (MAS) and many others took their grievances to the U.S. capitol.
Civil society representatives from various backgrounds called on the Myanmar authorities to end the bloodshed and urged the Trump administration to act more effectively on the persecution in Rakhine state as well as use its influence on the Myanmar government.
Since Aug. 25, 603,000 Rohingya have crossed from Myanmar's western state of Rakhine into Bangladesh, according to the UN.
The refugees are fleeing a military operation and Buddhist mobs that killed men, and children, looted homes and torched Rohingya villages.
"If this is not a genocide, I do not know what is," Oussama Jammal, Secretary General of the US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO) said, recalling the United Nations' 'genocide' definition.
The UN has documented mass gang rapes, killings -- including infants and young children -- brutal beatings, and disappearances committed by security personnel. In a report, UN investigators said such violations may have constituted crimes against humanity.
ADAMS Center President, Seyid Mukher stressed that American Muslims should impress upon the U.S. government to act against the violence.
"This genocide was happening in Rakhine State yesterday. It is happening today but it should not be tomorrow," he added, remarking that the persecution of Rohingya people has been on going for .
Protestors chanted against Myanmar authorities, carried banners reading “Stop the genocide in Rakhine now” and “Save our brothers and sisters in Myanmar”. The event ended without conflict.
In addition, the of State on Sunday said the U.S. delegation led by Acting Assistant Secretary of State, Simon Henshaw would hold meetings both in Burma (Myanmar) and Bangladesh to discuss the ongoing violence in Rakhine State and to improve the delivery of humanitarian assistance to displaced persons in Burma, Bangladesh, and the region.
The meetings will be held between October 29 and November 4. "The delegation will meet with various stakeholders to discuss the U.S. and international responses to the ongoing crisis and to explore durable solutions," it said in a statement.
According to Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Abul Hasan Mahmood Ali, around 3,000 Rohingya were killed in the Myanmar crackdown.
The Rohingya, described by the UN as the world's most persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attacks since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012.
