World Bulletin / News Desk

The director of a Saudi-funded aid organisation for Rohingya Muslims, during a visit to AA’s Istanbul office, thanked the Turkish government for aiding the Rohingya Muslim minority who live in the Arakan region in western Myanmar.

The Myanmar government denies citizenship to the Rohingya, and claims they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

The Al Majmua Rohingya organization was established last year in Saudi Arabia to make their voice heard in the world.

Samir el-Burmavi said many Rohingya became refugees after being attacked by Buddhists and now live in refugee camps in many countries, including Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia.

“Anadolu Agency published photographs and videos depicting the cruelty and ruthlessness of the Myanmar regime,” he said.

The Rohingya minority groups demand access to education but the government denies them this by withholding their ID cards, said El-Burmavi.

"I appreciate that Turkey shares our pain and sorrow," he said.

The government of Myanmar has denied any persecution of Rohingya has taken place. Earlier this year, the government singled out some aid agencies for being "biased" in their approach to Rohinga, banning one – Medecins Sans Frontieres -- from working in Rakhine state, in the country’s west, accusing it of “favoring” Rohingya in its programs.

El- Burmavi also met with AA’s Middle East and Africa chief Turan Kislakci, during his visit.