ANKARA (Sputnik) — “Those who turn a blind eye to this genocide, committed under a mask of democracy, become the accomplices of it. Global media, which overlooks these people in Rakhine, are also the accomplices of this crime. The Muslim population in Rakhine, which only half a century ago amounted to 4 million, now has diminished by one-third as a result of persecution and bloodshed. The fact that the world community is silent in response to this is a tragedy on its own,” Erdogan said at a public event, as quoted by the Anadolu news agency.
The Turkish leader also vowed to raise awareness about the clashes in Myanmar on a global level and at different international platforms.
“As the rotating president of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, I held necessary talks with leaders of Islamic countries and UN Secretary-General Guterres… Turkey will do everything possible to deliver the facts about situation in Rakhine to the global community. The issue will be discussed at the bilateral talks too. Turkey will speak about it even if others remain silent,” Ergodan stressed.
Rakhine is a site of frequent clashes between Myanmar's Muslims and Buddhists. The conflict that started about a century ago has gradually escalated since 2011 before hitting its peak in 2012, when thousands of Muslim families sought asylum in the special refugee camps on the country's territory or fled to Bangladesh. Yet another escalation started in 2016.
