[JURIST] The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights [official website] said Friday that Myanmar security forces’ treatment of the Rohingya Muslims likely constitutes crimes against humanity [UN NewsCentre report]. Interviews with Rohingya refugees reveal that security forces murdered children, pushed people into burning buildings and raped women, among other crimes [report, PDF]. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein [official profile] called on the international community to persuade the Myanmar government to end these military operations. “The gravity and scale of these allegations begs the robust reaction of the international community,” he said [press release].

Reports of human rights violations in Myanmar have prompted international concern. In November a spokesperson for Zeid expressed concern [JURIST report] about possible crimes against humanity committed against Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslim minority. The Myanmar military’s “campaign of violence” against Rohingya people constitutes crimes against humanity [JURIST report], according to an Amnesty International report in December. Earlier this week the Myanmar police arrested [JURIST] suspects in connection with the murder of a Muslim human rights lawyer.