Burmese Imams And a Trojan Horse

Myanmar government authority forced Rohingya Mosques Imams to sign as "Bengali" in Maungdaw.

One of the many mosques that are closed down due to ethnic strife between Muslims and Buddhists.

(DHAKA, Bangladesh) - According to a conversation over the telephone with reliable sources from Maungdaw Town, on 24th November, 2012

Two days ago, according to reliable sources from Maungdaw Town, an inquiry committee comprising members of police, Nasaka, immigration and Rakhine leaders invited Muslim (Rohingya) Mosques Imams by luring them, to hold a discussion on the subject of reopening Mosques.

The Mosques Imams from some villages of Maungdaw north enthusiastically met with the inquiry committee.

But the team cheated with Imams and forced them to sign as being Bengali. The Imams refused to sign as Bengali and they claimed that their forefathers were Rohingya and they/we are also Rohingya. At that time the Nasaka and the police beat some of the imams.

Finally other Imams left the sense after realizing the actual aim of invitation. But still the they are trying to convince imams. In fact, a team also arrived in Sittwe and probably they will visit the refugee camps soon and force the displaced Rohingyas to sign as "Bengali".

The Myanmar govt. first started the nationality inquiry in Mrauk U, but later failed to reach the goal there.

Now, the Muslim Rohingyas from Sittwe and Maungdaw are worrying and feeling high tension in this regards. The Myanmar govt has taken steps to convince Rohingyas to sign as "Bengali" which places those who do inside of a tougher mechanism.

The world community and the Muslim world should come forward to halt the contentious and tougher mechanism of Myanmar government that is being used against the identity of Muslim Rohingyas.

Nurul Islam is a Human Rights Activist & Media coordinator for ARU