Francis
says community members targeted 'simply because they want to live their culture
and their Muslim faith'.
Pope Francis strongly criticised atrocities, including
mass killings and gang rapes, committed against Rohingya Muslims.
Condemning the torture and killings committed by
Myanmar’s security forces that – according to a UN report – possibly amount to
ethnic cleansing, Francis said in a statement on Wednesday that Rohingya
Muslims were targeted “simply because they want to live their culture and their
Muslim faith”.
In a UN report made public last week, 204 Rohingya
refugees who fled to neighbouring Bangladesh were interviewed for first-hand
accounts.
They revealed grave violations allegedly carried out by
members of Myanmar’s security forces, or by civilians working alongside them.
Security forces in Myanmar reportedly burned down entire
villages and opened fire at people fleeing burning homes.
According to the report, the army has also been accused
of “massive and systematic rape and sexual violence; deliberate destruction of
food and sources of food”.
About 65,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh
since October 2016, following a deadly attack on a military post that resulted
in a security crackdown against the minority group.