In the Name of Allah, the lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
A Statement by Al-Azhar Al-Sharif on the Human Crisis of Muslims in Burma
Over the past few days, the entire world has been following up reports circulating in the media and social media of the horrible shocking photos of the crimes of killing, forced displacement, burning of human beings, genocide, and brutal massacres that have left hundreds dead including women, children, youth, and elders, who are besieged in Rakhine State, Myanmar. The authorities forced them to flee their homeland under the pressure of brutal, barbaric attacks that humanity had never witnessed before. Some of them died on their painful long walk under the burning sun, and starved to death. Others drowned after having no shelter on land and being forced to flee through the sea.
This totally barbaric and nonhuman scene would never have taken place if the world had any trace of human conscience. The world conscience seems to have died and all the lofty human morals can then only die. The voices of justice, freedom and human rights have all come to a state of the silence of death. All international conventions guaranteeing the protection of human rights, peace among peoples and the humankind’s fundamental right to live on their homeland have all just become unrealistic statements, and sheer lies unworthy of the ink with which they were written.
However, condemnations make no sense in the face of the genocide outrageously committed against the Rohingya Muslims, which only recalls the brutal acts of beasts in the wilderness.
Really hesitant and shy appeals issued by international and humanitarian organizations to save the Muslim citizens from the aggressions of the Burmese army and government of Myanmar are merely forms of vanities and waste of time. We are quite sure that these international organizations would take a completely different and strong situation and respond rapidly if the victims were Jews, Christians, Buddhists, or followers of any religion other than Islam.
In cooperation with the Muslim Council of Elders, Al-Azhar has worked to bring conflicting parties together and close the gab among them to reach a convincing compromise. Earlier this year, Al-Azhar hosted in Cairo a number of leading young people representing all religions and ethnicities in Myanmar, including monks and clergymen. It was only a first step to pave the way to peace, but a number of religious leaders in Myanmar paid no attention whatsoever to these endeavors and just allied themselves with some extremist elements in the Myanmar armed forces to perpetrate a systematic genocide and ethnic cleansing against the Muslim citizens. This savage atrocity brings shame to all humanity. All religions deny this situation which only marks an indelible shameful line in the history of Myanmar.
Driven by its religious and human responsibility, and in light of its universal message for peace, Al-Azhar Al-Sharif could not stand idly by in the face of these brutal violations. As such, Al-Azhar will lead human action at the Arab, Islamic and international levels to put an end to these massacres which purposively targeting Muslim citizens in Myanmar. Al-Azhar calls on all international bodies and organizations as well as all human rights associations to undertake their duties and take the required procedures to investigate these horrible crimes, trace those who committed them, and deliver them to the International Court of Justice as war criminals for their brutal atrocities.
All should know that such crimes form the strongest reason encouraging terrorist crimes from which entire humanity suffers.
Here, from Egypt - the heart of Arabism and Islam, and from Al-Azhar, we send a human outcry demanding the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the European Union, and the United Nations to take immediate action, especially the Security Council. However, it is very important, before anything else, that the decision makers in the Arab and Muslim countries do their utmost and put political and economic pressures to bring the government of Myanmar back to their senses and to the truth, so that they may stop the ethnic and religious discrimination against their own citizens.
It is unforgettable, Al-Azhar declares his sorrow for the paradox committed when a peace Nobel Prize winner holds the prestigious peace prize in one hand while blessing all crimes against peace, with the other hand, thus leaving peace a ridiculously meaningless word.
Finally, we address our fellow Muslims in Burma to remain steadfast in the face of this brutal aggression. We stand by your side and will never fail you. Allah will definitely help you. Know that He Almighty "never supports the actions of wrongdoers" (Qur’an, 10:81) and that "the wrongdoers will come to know what evil end they will meet." (Qur’an, 26: 227)
Wa al-Salaam Alyakum Wa Rahmatu Allah wa Barakatuh (Allah’s Peace, Mercy, and Blessings be with you all!)
On Dhul-Hijjah 17th, 1438 AH/September 8th, 2017
Professor Ahmad At-Tayyeb
The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar