UN official claims horrific torture against Rohingya Muslims

Spokesperson for head of government responded to allegations saying they were 'exaggerated'

Top UN official has claimed that 'crimes against humanity' are being committed by the military and the police against Myanmar's Rohingya Muslims.

Yanghee Lee, who is UN special rapporteur for human rights spoke to the BBC and said Muslims in the country have been subjected to torture.



Aung San Suu Kyi who has been in power in Myanmar has repeatedly declined interviews to discuss the Rohingya.

A spokesperson for the head of the government responded to the allegations by saying they were 'exaggerated' and an 'internal' issue not an 'international' one.

Lee was not given free access to the conflict area in Myanmar. She, however, spoke to the refugees who have fled Myanmar to Bangladesh and said the situation was 'far worse' than she expected.

"I would say crimes against humanity. Definite crimes against humanity, by the Burmese, Myanmar military, the border guards or the police or security forces," she said.

While the problem of abuse exists within the Burmese security forces, Lee believes the elected government needs to bear some of the responsibility.

"At the end of the day it is the government, the civilian government, that has to answer and respond to these massive cases of horrific torture and very inhumane crimes they have committed against their own people," she added.

Myanmar’s government considers the estimated 800,000 Rohingya in the country to be foreigners, while many citizens see them as illegal immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh and view them with hostility.



A militant attack in October triggered a security crackdown, forcing almost 70,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee to Bangladesh.

This story originally appeared in BBC