Arakan News Agency
Rohingya Muslims have shown strong reaction against the approval of the Religious Conversion Bill and the Monogamy Bill in the Joint Parliament of Myanmar, saying that the new laws would entrench discrimination based on religion, and also violate internationally protected rights to privacy and religious belief. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Global Rohingya Center and the Arakan Roh…ingya Union, demanded that the Myanmar President Thein Sein must reject the controversial legislation.
“By passing the two draft laws, the Parliament has ignored the universal principles of basic human rights, privacy rights and personal freedom, and endangered country’s already tense inter-societal situation” said President GRC, Shiekh Abdullah Maruf, and Director General ARU, Dr. Wakar Uddin, in their joint statement.
According to the Religious Conversion Bill, anyone wishing to change his religion must be over 18 and will be required to file an application with a local board, including the reasons for the conversion. The applicant would be interviewed by at least five board members, followed by a 90-day study period to approve or reject the application. Rohingya Muslims, while terming the new legislation as attack on Muslim identity, said that the motives behind this was the fear of popularity of Islam among Burmese citizens
The Monogamy Bill, on the other hand, prohibits from entering a second marriage, by setting out punishments for violations, including loss of property rights upon divorce for the spouse. “The law also includes criminal penalties of up to seven years in prison and a fine under Section 494 of Burma’s Penal Code,” Rohingya leaders said.
Rohingya Muslims appealed to the United Nations, Muslim countries, and the International Community for publicly condemning these discriminatory laws, which not only violate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights but also are against the Burma’s own constitution 2008.
