Ifta warns against exploiting Al-Qaeda and ISIL for Rohingya Crisis

CAIRO - 24 September 2017: The Ifta Observatory, affiliated to the Egyptian Fatwa Center, warned against the escalating crisis and persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, leading to the exploitation of the crisis by extremist groups, such as IS and Al Qaeda.

This would undermine the international achievements in the fight against terror. Taking advantage of the flared up dispute in Myanmar, terrorist groups recruit more people under the pretext of revenge against disbelievers for their persecution.

Although Bangladesh continues to receive Rohingya refugees fleeing from murder and persecution in Myanmar, it has security concerns about the ongoing crisis that is driving various regional and global extremist organizations to exploit the issue for recruitment and propaganda purposes.

Parallel to the said exploitation, there are increasing fears of the negative impact on Bangladesh’s internal security and world peace in general.

A good example of the exploitation of the Rohingya issue by extremist groups was during the period from 2012 to 2015. The only difference this time is that ISIL is trying to regain the glory it lost in Syria, Iraq, and Libya by expanding in South East Asia and engaging in the ongoing dispute taking place in Rakhine state.

According to Dabiq, the online English magazine issued monthly by the Islamic State, the Rohingya crisis was a constant point of focus for IS. Some issues referred to Bangladesh as a new base that will be used to attack Myanmar.