Joint opposition to show solidarity with Rohingya Muslims
A special gathering is to be held on September 29
Representatives of the joint opposition announcing decision to hold a special gathering, for Rohingya Muslims
The joint opposition has decided to hold a special gathering, to show that Maldivians stand in solidarity with Rohingya Muslims, who have long been facing persecution in Myanmar.
The announcement was made on Wednesday night, at a gathering held by the opposition.
While the joint opposition comprises of the four major opposition parties- Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Adhaalath Party, Jumhooree Party (JP) and one faction of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM)- representatives from all four parties took the stage to make the announcement.
Religious scholar and member of Adhaalath Party, former Islamic Minister Dr. Abdul Majeed Abdul Bari said that the gathering will be held from 4pm to 6pm, on September 29.
He called on as many people to take part in the gathering, "to show that Maldivians are with the Rohingya Muslims".
Also speaking on Wednesday night, deputy leader of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Mohamed Shifaz noted that Maldives "is a 100 percent Muslim nation", adding that the plight of Rohingya Muslims "is concerning".
MP for Thulusdhoo constituency, Mohamed Waheed Ibrahim said that even though "they are far away, we have to show that we stand with them," while JP's deputy Dr. Hussain Rasheed Hassan thanked Adhalaath Party for taking the initiative to hold such an event.
The joint opposition is to announce further details regarding the gathering in the coming days.
According to international human rights groups and news reports, over 400,000 people have fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh, since the latest influx of violence on August 25.
Senior United Nations officials have expressed concern over the matter, with its human right's chief, Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussain describing the situation in Rakhine state as a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing".
Secretary General Antonio Guterres has asked the UN's security council to end the violence by the Burmese security forces against the Rohingya Muslims. This is the first time an UN secretary general has asked member nations of the UN security council to intervene in a humanitarian conflict, in 28 years.
