Rome - Pope Francis on Wednesday denounced the persecution of
the Rohingya people of Myanmar, just because they are Muslim.
"Our Rohingya brothers and sisters ... have been suffering for
years," the pope said at a weekly audience, marking the Vatican's Day
of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking.
"They have been tortured, killed, simply for carrying on their
traditions, their Muslim faith."
In a February 3 report, the United Nations human rights arm said it
has documented severe and widespread atrocities by Myanmar security
forces against the Rohingya, including mass gang rapes, babies and
infants being stabbed to death, and homes, schools, and mosques being
set on fire.