New York – The Muslim World League (MWL) is prepared to send an official delegation to Myanmar to support Rohingya Muslim minorities who are being persecuted.
MWL’s Sec-Gen Mohammed al-Isa confirmed that the bloodshed in Myanmar was no less criminal than the terrorism of ISIS and other terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda.
Speaking to Asharq al-Awsat on the sidelines of the Conference on Civilization Interaction between US and Muslim World in New York, Isa said that MWL has been working on two important aspects of the humanitarian situation in Myanmar. Firstly, the organization wanted to strongly condemn the brutal attacks, adding that MWL is an international, popular organization for all Muslim communities.
The MWL compared the terrorist massacres in Burma to crimes committed by ISIS and al-Qaeda, Isa said.
Secondly is providing humanitarian aid to Muslims including the refugees in Bangladesh and Thailand. He explained that the distribution will be done according to the legal procedures of each country. In addition, MWL is prepared to send an official delegation as soon the political situation and procedures allow.
The Sec-Gen pointed out that extremists use the Islamic religion to promote their ideologies, however, MWL held several conferences and seminars to show the real image of Islam. He explained that extremism and terrorism depend on promoting Islamophobia which may have affected moderate Islam.
Isa stated that extremism can only be defeated when seminars and conventions are met with actual movements that can be implemented in reality.
When asked about reaching out to other religions, Isa said that MWL cooperates with other religions such as Judaism and Christianity.
According to the Sec-Gen, the problem lies in ignoring the common between all religions. He reiterated that not everyone should follow the same sect or religion or even conviction and ideology. Isa said that the important issue is that everyone understand and respect all religions.
MWL called for immediate intervention and support for the Rohingya, at both local and international levels stating that global peace is at stake unless those involved in violence were held to account.
It urged the international community to take firm and effective action to end the massacres in Myanmar.
Conference on Civilization Interaction between US and Muslim World kicked off on Saturday with the participation of the UN, 450 scholars and thinkers representing 56 states as well as Islamic and US intellectual and cultural institutions.
The opening ceremony was attended by Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL) Mohammed al-Isa, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Yousef al-Othaimeen, President of Grand Mosque and Prophet’s Mosque Affairs Sheik Abdulrahman al-Sudais and a number of senior personalities from the Muslim World.
The conference also discusses the civilization of Islam and its pioneering historical experience of global openness and of the cultural exchange concepts, said the Secretary-General in a statement.