Newsman: the U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Rashad Hussain told that the White House is particularly concerned about the situation unfolding with the genocide against the Rohingya, a stateless Muslim minority group.
He is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on Sunday for a four-day visit.
In an interview with GMA 3 the US ambassador told that his appointment itself sent strong message to the World. Last month, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said attacks by Myanmar’s military against the Rohingya, a Muslim ethnic minority, constituted genocide and crimes against humanity. The legal determination was made five years after the government killed 9,000 Rohingya and forced over a million others into exile.
US Ambassador at- large for ‘International Religious Freedom’ Rashad Hussain said “the determination took some time because the U.S. had to gather all of the data and information as part of its meticulous legal process.”He noted that the move will help provide more assistance to the legal brought by the Gambia and the International Court of Justice.
“We’re sending a strong signal that for anyone who engages in these types of actions, crimes against humanity [and] genocide, we will hold them accountable,” he said. “We also are very clear that we will do everything we can to prevent these types of atrocities from occurring.”
“That includes seeking to end the use of blasphemy laws, apostasy laws,” he said.
The ambassador said that the U.S. stands for any religious group that is being persecuted.
“One of the profound aspects of this job is that it’s our responsibility, which we take very seriously, to wake up every day and do everything that we can to help people that are suffering,” he said.
He also plans on implementing the Marrakesh Declaration, which advocates for the protection of rights of Christians and other minorities in Muslim majority countries, said Rashad Hossain
According to Foreign Ministry sources, during the visit, Special Envoy Rashad Hossain will hold meetings with ministers and secretaries of the Bangladesh government, religious personalities and representatives of civil society.
It has been reported that Rashad Hossain will address a seminar at the auditorium of the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS). Rashad Hossain will also hold meetings with senior officials of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Religion, Law and Public Administration.
Ambassador Rashad Hussain is the first Muslim-American ever to hold the title the “U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom.” He previously served as President Barack Obama’s special envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation,
Rashad Hussain was confirmed by the Senate in December with an 85-5 vote, where 10 Senators did not vote. He said the bi-partisan support sent a message that the U.S. is “supporting the right to religious freedom for all people everywhere.”
