The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has renewed its call for the international community to intensify support for the Rohingya people and ensure justice and accountability for crimes committed against them, marking the eighth anniversary of the 2017 mass atrocities in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.

In a statement issued Tuesday (August 26), the 57-member bloc urged Myanmar to take concrete, verifiable steps toward the safe, dignified, voluntary, and sustainable return of the Rohingya to their homeland. The OIC also underscored the urgent need for humanitarian assistance for more than 1.3 million Rohingya refugees sheltering in Bangladesh and other host countries, as well as those who remain internally displaced within Myanmar under conditions of violence, persecution, and statelessness.'

“The Rohingya have endured systematic discrimination, forced displacement, and mass killings for decades. The international community must stand united in securing justice and a durable solution to this protracted crisis,” the OIC said.

The organization reiterated its full support for international legal proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), where Myanmar faces charges of genocide, and stressed the obligation of both the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army to comply with ICJ-ordered provisional measures to protect the Rohingya.

The OIC paid tribute to the resilience of the Rohingya community, praising their courage in the face of statelessness and displacement. Its commended Bangladesh for hosting the largest refugee settlement in the world despite immense socio-economic pressures, while acknowledging the contributions of other OIC member states that have extended aid and solidarity.

The bloc emphasized that the plight of the Rohingya is not just a regional humanitarian concern but a global test of justice and human rights. It urged stronger international solidarity, sustained humanitarian support, and coordinated diplomatic efforts to tackle the root causes of persecution and to pave the way for a comprehensive, just, and durable solution.

With the crisis entering its eighth year, the Rohingya remain trapped between uncertain futures in overcrowded refugee camps and continued violence in their homeland. Rights advocates warn that without concrete international action, accountability and safe repatriation will remain elusive.

The OIC pledged to keep the Rohingya issue alive at the highest levels of international diplomacy, vowing: “We will continue to advocate for the rights, dignity, and justice of the Rohingya people until their safe return and rightful place in Myanmar is secured.”

BOB Post