God is in the midst of the Rohingya: Pope Francis

By Mutasim Billah

DHAKA, Bangladesh

Pope Francis publicly said the word "Rohingya" for the first time when he met Rohingya refugees in the capital Dhaka on the second day of his visit to Bangladesh.

During his visit to Myanmar earlier this week, he never mentioned the word “Rohingya,” an omission that drew fire from human rights groups.

According to BBCbangla, after meeting with 18 Rohingya Muslims who came to Dhaka from refugee camps, Francis said, "Today the presence of God is in the midst of the Rohingya."

During this time, he said he apologized on behalf of those who tortured you.

“We've realized that your sufferings are very deep. We all want peace. We are working to establish peace,” Francis said after meeting with Rohingya as quoted local UNB news.

A special prayer for the Rohingya was also held in a church following the meeting.

The IOM, the UN migration agency, worked with community leaders in the refugee settlements to identify a group to represent the Rohingya in a meeting with the pontiff, according to the IOM.

Caritas, a confederation of Catholic relief organizations, organized the group’s travel to Dhaka as well as their meeting with Francis.

'I will go home when we're recognized as Rohingya'

Jafar, a Rohingya refugee, had this message for the pope: “When we say we are Rohingya, we are attacked.

“Our lives are connected to this title but I will only go back if we are recognized as Rohingya and not targeted because of it.”

He added that every man and woman should have their full human rights respected in Myanmar, including land rights.

A Rohingya woman named Hajera said she wanted to use the opportunity of meeting the pope to raise awareness of violence and sexual assault against Rohingya women for all those who suffered at the hands of aggressors in Myanmar.

“As women, we are targeted, we can’t go outside alone.”

Mohammed, a religious teacher in Myanmar, said that he knows that the pope raised his “powerful voice” before for the Rohingya community and that during their meeting with him, he will ask him to do it once again.

“None of us can fail to be aware of the gravity of the situation, the immense toll of human suffering involved, and the precarious living conditions of so many of our brothers and sisters, a majority of whom are women and children, crowded in the refugee camps,” Pope Francis said.

“It is imperative that the international community take decisive measures to address this grave crisis, not only by working to resolve the political issues that have led to the mass displacement of people, but also by offering immediate material assistance to Bangladesh in its effort to respond effectively to urgent human needs.”

Fleeing violence

Since Aug. 25 about 621,000 Rohingya refugees have arrived in Bangladesh, fleeing violence in Myanmar.

According to the UN, the total Rohingya refugee population in the area is now over 834,000.

They are fleeing a military crackdown in which security forces and Buddhist mobs have killed men, women and children, looted homes and torched Rohingya villages.

According to Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Abul Hasan Mahmood Ali, around 3,000 Rohingya have been killed in the crackdown.

Rohingya, described by the UN as the world's most persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attack since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012.

The UN documented mass gang rapes, killings -- including of infants and young children -- brutal beatings, and disappearances committed by security personnel.

In a recent report, UN investigators said such violations may have constituted crimes against humanity.