The deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Mohammad Ouzzine, represented the Moroccan Parliament in the visit organized by the PUIC in collaboration with the Parliament of Bangladesh, to the Camps of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh during the period 10 to 13 September, 2018. The visit furnished the opportunity to be closely informed about the conditions of the Rohingya refugees, especially the harsh humanitarian circumstances which they endure as a result of their migration. The aim was to stress the urgent need for extending further humanitarian assistance to the camps inhabitants who faced violence, oppression and ethnic cleansing which are practiced by Myanmar authorities against the Muslim Minority.

          A number of delegation from PUIC Member Parliament took part in the visit, namely: Algeria, Iran, Malaysia, Sudan and Turkey.

          The most prominent events in the work program of the visit has been meetings with senior officials in Bangladesh which included the Speaker of the Parliament and the Foreign Minister, as well as field visits to the Rohingya refugee Camps in Bangladesh.

Meeting with the Parliament Speaker:

During the visit, Mr. Mohammed Ouzzine had a meeting with the Speaker of the Parliament of Bangladesh which focused on the tragic conditions facing the Rohingya as a result of the continuous savage practices carried against the Muslim Rohingya community in Myanmar, constituting a blatant and serious violation of the International law as well as international conventions and laws concerning human rights.

During this meeting the lady Speaker expressed sincere thanks and appreciation to the initiative of His Majesty King Mohammed VI who dispatched in September 2017, emergency humanitarian assistance to the migrant Rohingya Muslims. The aim of the initiative was to support the efforts of the sisterly country, Bangladesh, to face the intensive flow of refugees of the Rohingya Muslim minority from neighboring Burma, and to lessen their sufferings.

Meeting with the Foreign Minister

Mr. Mohammed Ouzzine, also had a meeting with the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh who reviewed the tragic conditions of the Muslim Rohingya. He offered a number of solutions involving support of Muslim States for preserving the dignity of the Rohingya people, continuing to extend material and moral support, and awaking the human conscience in order to lift the injustice and put an end to this dilemma.

Field visit to the Rohingya Refugee Camps in Bangladesh

The visit was an opportunity to closely take stock of the situation in the reception camps and the relief points. These we listened to the representatives of the camps who recounted the bitter events, the painful sufferings and inhuman violations which they have experienced such as killing innocent people, dispersion and forced migration of children and women, and destruction of properties.

It may be noted that the Rohingya refugee Camps in Bangladesh are the largest of their kind in the region. They are giving shelter to 800.000 refugees and 50.000 children without families which constitutes fertile ground for the spread of violation, extremism and terrorism.

Conclusion and Recommendation

-The participants in the visit called on the states of the PUIC Members to act swiftly to energize the provisions of the agreements on resettlement of the Rohingya which was signed an official from the government of Myanmar with the authorities of Bangladesh during the former’s recent visit to the refugee Camps.

-It is necessary to call upon the Myanmar government to abide by its obligations according to the International Law and human rights conventions and to take all the necessary measures to stop immediately the operation of ethnic cleansing, forced migration and discriminating practices against the Rohingya Muslims.

-Calling on the international community and the United Nations in order to ensure permanent return of all the migrant Rohingya Muslims to their country.

-Restoring citizenship rights and to live on security and peace through continuous pressure on the Myanmar government in order to put an end to this horrifying tragedy.

-Commending the royal initiative involving emergency humanitarian assistance to the migrant Rohingya Muslims in Bangladesh. Stressing their gratitude and appreciation to the Moroccan people, leadership and government, for such a generous and humanitarian gesture in the circumstances through which the Rohingya Muslims are passing.

-Recognizing that Morocco’s solidarity is not something strange to His Majesty the King and the Moroccan people. The kingdom of Morocco has always supported the Islamic Nation; and considering this initiative an available opportunity to continue the position of the Kingdom of Morocco and its radiance within the Islamic space in the manner of the authorities in Turkey and Iran.

Mohammad Ouzzine,

Deputy Speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives,

Rohingya Refugee Camps in Bangladesh,

10-13 September, 2018