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U.S Congressman  Keith Ellison ( (DFL-MN) and Nay San Oo, Founder of (Free Rohingya Campaign) & Information Secretary of BRANA at ISNA convention at Washington DC  

Rohingya issue was top priority at ISNA 49 annual session

Rohingya issue was the top priority for 49 session of ISNA Convention which is the largest gathering of Muslims in North America. This Convention brings together more than 40,000 attendees that include individuals, families, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and people of other faiths. People are reminded not to forget the plight of Rohingya until they achieved permanent solution which is the right to be treated equally as a fellow Human Being.

Congressman Keith Ellison(D-MN) has advised American Muslim to be advocate of Rohingya by using twitter, facebook, and other form of social media to reach out as people as they can, until the lost rights of Rohingya are fully restored. He also spoke with Nay San Oo privately about the hearing that is going to take place at the US congress.

Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed is the National Director of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), urged US Government to act before it is too late as the impact of Holocaust in Germany might be much smaller had America reacted on time.

More than 200 speakers at various events highlighted the responsibility of US Muslim towards the plight of Rohingya Muslim who are victims of ethnic cleansing and genocide.

Exhibition Booth No# 235 at 49 ISNA Convention, Washington DC


ISNA President Imam Mohamed Magid at Rohingya Booth

More than ten thousand visitors were at Boot#235 during three days convention to show their support for the plight of Rohingya who are the most persecuted people in the world.

More than twenty thousand flyers and booklets were distributed and more than three thousand signature were collected to send them to US secretary of State to appeal to engage actively until Permanent solution of Rohingya is achieved and Rohingya will not vulnerable for another genocide.

Many reputable Islamic authors, respectable person form State department Sameer Hossain, Imam Mohammed Hag Magid president of ISNA, the delegation from Tunia other diplomats from various countries stop by and showed their concern about Rohingya Muslim.

Free Rohingya campaign was introduced by recruiting new membership which well received by many young Muslim such as college students and ect.





 Prof. Dr. Wakar Uddin speaking at the ISNA Convention ,Mr. Mehmet Kalyonku (OIC), Mr. William Aiken (SGI Buddhist movement), Dr. Sayyid Syeed (ISNA).  Mr. Sameer Hossain (US State Department)






THE 49TH ANNUAL CONVENTION OF ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF NORTH AMERICA (ISNA) IN WASHINGTON; DISTINGUISHED PANEL SPEAKS AT THE EXTRAORDINARY ROHINGYA EVENT AND BOOTHS DISPLAYED PLIGHTS OF ROHINGYA APPEALING THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOR IMMEDIATE INTERVENTION

A Rohingya event titled “Oppression in Myanmar: Taking Actions to Save Rohingya Muslims” was held at the 49th Annual ISNA Convention in Washington, D.C., that was convened August 31- September 3, 2012 at the Walter Convention Center in Downtown Washington. Dr. Sayed Syeed, National Director of ISNA’s Interfaith and Community Alliance, presided the event with a keynote opening speech. Six distinguished speakers gave presentations on political and human rights issues facing Rohingya Muslims in Arakan state in Burma/Myanmar. 

The speakers were Prof. Dr. Wakar Uddin, Chairman of the Burmese Rohingya Association of North America (BRANA) and Director General of Arakan Rohingya Union (ARU), Dr. T. Kumar, Director of International Advocacy for Amnesty International, USA, Mr. Mehmet Kalyonku, Political Advisor at Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Mr. Sameer Hossain, Foreign Affairs Officer at U.S. State Department, Mr. William Aiken, Director General of Public Affairs for Soka Gakkai International (SGI) Buddhist movement, and Dr. Nora Rowley, formerly a field medical doctor with Medicins Sans Frontieres in Northern Arakan state, and currently a human right advocate for Burma. Specializing in Rohingya. 

Dr. Syeed heighted the importance of collective engagement and support for Rohingya cause from Muslim Ummah, Interfaith communities, and the international community at large. Dr. Uddin provided the detailed accounts of the roots of Rohingya indigenous population in Rohang region in Northern Arakan state dating back to 9th century and the genocide of Rohingya in Arakan which is over 60 years in the making. Dr. Uddin appealed the Muslims in North America to take part aggressively in the worldwide mobilization efforts to save Rohingya Muslims from extermination by the ultranationalist and racist elements in Myanmar. Dr. T. Kumar underscored the importance of respect of human rights for Rohingya during the period of so-called democratic reform in Myanmar. He sent a strong message to democratic reformers in Myanmar as how they were protected by international community when their rights were violated by the Burmese military regime, yet they are not respecting human rights for Rohingya. OIC’s Political Advisor Mr. Kalyonku described the role of OIC in garnering the supports for Rohingya cause from OIC member states, OIC’s extraordinary efforts in bringing the Rohingya issue as one of the top priorities in the Makkah Summit of 57 heads of OIC member countries convened by HRH King Abdullah. Current OIC’s engagement with Government of Myanmar on Rohingya issues were also highlighted by Mr. Kalyonku. Mr. Sameer Hossain of U.S. State Department provided extensive reports on the U.S. Government’s efforts on resolving the Rohingya political and human right issues from various fronts, plus the urgently needed humanitarian aid. Mr. Hossain stressed the U.S. Government’s commitment to a permanent solution of Rohingya political and human right issues in Burma. Mr. William Aiken, a devoted and highly respected community leader of the Buddhist SGI organization, expressed unequivocal supports for Rohingya victims as he was personally touched by the recent gruesome killing of Rohingya. Mr Aiken called on all the peace loving Buddhist people in the world to show solidarity with Rohingya people in their struggle for regaining their political and human rights with dignity in Myanmar. Mr. Aiken had emphasized that the violence by Buddhist Rakhine against Rohingya ethnic minority in Myanmar is deplorable and such ideology of hate must be rejected by all members of the peace loving community of the world. Dr. Crowley provided valuable insights to Rohingya ethnic cleansing in Myanmar from historical/geopolitical perspectives and ultranationalist ideology based on the concept of racial “purity” maintained by the racist elements in Myanmar. 

There were three exhibition booths on Rohingya history, human rights, and current violence by Rakhine and Burmese police against Rohingya. The exhibitions were presented by Burma Task Force USA (Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid and Nadia Malik), Dr. Nora Crowley, Yusuf Iqbal (Oregon), Nay San Oo , and Jahangir Sultan (New York). Additionally, there were brochures and flyers on Rohingya plights made available to convention attendees at the booths. Mr. Enamul Huq and Mr. Syed Hussain from New York, and two groups of Rohingya participants (from Wisconsin and Illinois) distributed the flyers at the ISNA bazaar.




(Washington, DC - July 12, 2012) The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) expresses its profound concern about the current violence against members of the Rohingya Muslim community, which have long experienced great hardship and oppression in their home country of Myanmar. In addition, Rohingya Muslims require government permission to marry, are forbidden from having more than two children per family, and are subjected to modern-day slavery through forced labor. Because the national government denies them the right to citizenship in their homeland, many Rohingyas have their land confiscated and they are restricted from travel.

ISNA rejects these ongoing oppressive policies and is deeply sorrowed by the recent killing of innocent Rohingya Muslims. We stand firmly against the usage of ethnic and religious differences to perpetrate the persecution of minority communities, regardless of country, religion, or circumstance. The government of Myanmar's current course of action is unacceptable, and the Rohingya people must be afforded basic human rights.

After sectarian violence broke out last month in the Arakan state of Myanmar, Human Rights Watch reported that military and law enforcement officials have responded with "biased" and "brutal force" against Rohingya groups. While the government of Myanmar stated that the situation was improving, the World Food Programme reported that the most recent wave of violence displaced approximately 90,000 people. Amnesty International noted many of these displaced individuals "still lack adequate food, water, shelter, and medical attention" and are hindered from obtaining access to local and international aid groups.

On Monday, ISNA joined Amnesty International and other organizations for a press conference to draw attention to this devastating humanitarian crisis. Together we urged the State Department not to forget the plight of the Rohingya Muslim people in its conduct diplomatic negotiations with Myanmar. At this critical moment, the U.S. and all nations must call for peaceful coexistence in Myanmar and a new way forward for the Rohingya people.

Source here



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