Myanmar National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi arrives to a union parliament session in Naypyitaw, Myanmar (EPA)

The Arab Gulf states have condemned the continuing racial discrimination directed at the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar and the systematic violation of their human rights. The states renewed their call for the international community, especially the Security Council and regional and international civil society organisations to work towards finding a quick solution to this issue in accordance with resolutions made by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the United Nations.

This condemnation was made in a speech delivered by Saudi Arabia’s UN Ambassador Faisal Bin Hassan Trad yesterday on behalf of GCC countries during an interactive discussion held by the Human Rights Council on the situation in Myanmar. He welcomed the report issued by the United Nations special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar and agreed with her request for the new government in that country to take immediate steps to put an end to discriminatory policies and practices against the Rohingya Muslims and other Muslim communities in the state of Rakhine.

Ambassador Trad highlighted the fact that despite reforms mentioned in the report, “the human rights of the Muslims of Rohingya in Myanmar are still being violated and they are being afflicted with tragedies and persecution which has led to their marginalisation and displacement.”