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CAIR ACTION ALERT:

Ask Congress to Help End Persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Burma

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/8/14) -- CAIR is calling on American Muslims and other people of conscience to contact their member of Congress today to urge support for House Resolution 418 to help Rohingya Muslims facing persecution in Burma.

Unanimously adopted by the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific in December, the resolution calls on the government of Burma (Myanmar) to end the persecution of its Rohingya minority and to respect internationally-recognized human rights for all ethnic and religious groups within Burma.

Introduced by Representative James McGovern (D-MA) and co-sponsored by 16 Republicans and Democrats, HR 418 needs at least 10 additional co-sponsors to receive a full House Foreign Affairs Committee markup and requires another 25 co-sponsors to receive a vote on the House floor.

CAIR has provided a "click and send" letter to House members urging that they support the Muslims of Burma by co-sponsoring the H. Res. 418. Take action to ensure Congress calls on Burma to end all forms of persecution and discrimination targeting the Rohingya.

U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific Hearing on H. Res. 418
CAIR Letter to Foreign Affairs Committee in Support of H. Res. 418

BACKGROUND:

For the past year, the Burmese government has either allowed or directly supported attempted ethnic cleansing by Burmese national extremists of the minority Rohingya Muslim community.

This campaign of violence has taken the lives of more than 1,000 Rohingya. Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled to neighboring countries, including at least 231,000 to Bangladesh, at least 15,000 to Malaysia, and many more to Thailand and Indonesia.

Due to government restrictions on the movements of the Rohingya, individuals residing in Burmese camps have been prevented by local police and military from traveling for outside medical treatment or food. 

Representing four percent of the population of Burma, the Rohingya are classified as non-citizens by the Burmese government. Since 1994, in the western state of Rakhine, the Rohingya have been prevented from marrying by local administrations that refuse marriage licenses and penalize unauthorized cohabitation and reproduction. It has been reported that the state of Rakhine has imposed a two-child limit on Rohingya Muslim families, a policy that does not apply to Buddhists in the same region.

Take a stand against such injustices by joining CAIR in calling for Burma to ensure the safety, security, and equal citizenship rights of the Rohingya and all other minorities. This includes Burma repealing restrictions on marriage, two-child limits on Rohingya families, stopping mass arrests of Rohingya, and providing care for all displaced persons.

CAIR is a member of The Burma Task Force USA. CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR Government Affairs Manager Robert McCaw, 202-488-8787, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com