Islam spiritual leader blasts Myanmar violence
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The spiritual leader of Islam's majority Sunnis has blasted Myanmar for the "massacres" against Rohingya Muslims, calling for swift political and economic pressure by the international community on the Buddhist-majority nation.
The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, the world's foremost seat of Sunni Islamic learning, also warned in a televised statement aired from Cairo on Friday that violence against the Rohingya encourages "terrorist crimes," a reference to Islamic militancy.
Using uncustomary strong language, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb also blasted Myanmar leader Aung Sang Suu Kyi without naming her, saying she held the Nobel Peace Prize she won in 1991 with one hand and condoned "crimes" with the other. Al-Tayeb called on rights groups to investigate war crimes committed against the Rohingya and refer perpetrators to the International Court of Justice.
