You may have heard or read about the violence and persecution faced by the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar. I have heard from many constituents deeply moved by these reports. I am pleased to sponsor a community-driven petition by Scarborough Centre resident Afran Navveed -- e-761 (Burma) -- which calls on the Government of Canada to act in support of the Rohingya. I invite you to sign this petition, and to share the link with your networks. Let's gather as much support for this petition as possible. I look forward to presenting this petition in the House of Commons once the signature period is complete in May, and to continuing to advocate for the Rohingya community. Sincerely, Salma Zahid, MP  

Petition to the Government of Canada

Whereas:

• The Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar have been termed by the United Nations as the most persecuted minority in the world;
• The Rohingya of Myanmar are victims of ethnic cleansing, rape, violence and constant persecution in their homeland; More than 100,000 Rohingyas are in camps for Internally Displaced Persons where they face poverty, violence and persecution;
• To escape violence and persecution, many thousands of Rohingyas have fled to neighbouring countries such as Bangledesh that are ill-equipped to care for them; and
• Canada is a country that stands for human rights and the protection of persecuted and endangered minorities.

We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to do all that is in its power to help the Rohingya Muslim community, including

• to put pressure on the Government of Myanmar to fulfill its moral and legal obligation to ensure the safety of its Rohingya Muslim minority
• to pressure the Government of Myanmar to allow humanitarian assistance and international NGOs to reach Rakhine state and those Rohingya in camps for internally displaced persons
• to arrange for a visit to Rakhine from the Canadian Ambassador to Myanmar
• to view the situation first-hand and report back to the Government, to provide increased assistance and support for those countries which are housing Rohingya refugees, as well as for Rohingya in IDP camps, and
• to support the commission led by former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan studying the situation in the Rakhine state.

Sign The Petition