Education activist Malala Yousafzai on Monday spoke up for the rights of Rohingya Muslims, urging influential world leaders to take action against the persecution of the minority group, said a statement released by the Malala Fund.
“I stand with the Rohingyas, and I encourage people everywhere to do so,” Malala said.
“I call on the leaders of Myanmar and the world to take immediate action to halt the inhuman persecution of Burma’s Muslim minority Rohingya people,” she said.
She stressed the right of Rohingyas to citizenship in their country of birth, saying they deserved equal rights and opportunities. “The Rohingyas deserve citizenship in the country where they were born and have lived for generations. They deserve equal rights and opportunities.”
The 17-year-old said Rohingya Muslims “deserve to be treated like we all deserve to be treated – with dignity and respect. Today and every day.”