Iranian Lawmakers Call for Halt to 'Massacre,' 'Genocide'

The Burmese government refuses to recognize Rohingyas, who it claims are not natives and classifies as illegal migrants, although the Rohingya are said to be Muslim descendants of Persian, Turkish, Bengali, and Pathan origin.

(TEHRAN) - The Iranian Parliament this week condemned the “massacre” of Muslims in Burma, and called on the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) to take action. “The Human Rights Commission (of the Iranian Parliament) condemns the massacre and genocide (of Muslims) in Myanmar and asks the UNHCHR to enter the scene responsibly and call for a stop to the killings of the Muslims,” said a statement by the Iranian Parliament's Human Rights Commission issued on Tuesday.

The Burmese government refuses to recognize Rohingyas, who it claims are not natives and classifies as illegal migrants, although the Rohingya are said to be Muslim descendants of Persian, Turkish, Bengali, and Pathan origin, who migrated to Burma as early as the 8th century, the statement said.