Malaysian PM urges Muslim world to help oppressed Rohingya

Secretary General of the OIC Yousef Bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen, speaks during the opening of an extraordinary session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation foreign ministers on the situation of the Rohingya Muslim Minority in Myanmar at a conference center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. During the opeing remarks Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak called on the Government of Myanmar to cease all discriminatory actions and attacks against the Rohingya's immediately and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. (AP Photo/Lim Huey Teng) (The Associated Press)

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, center, stands among leaders and representatives of Islamic countries pose for a photograph during the opening of an extraordinary session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation foreign ministers on the situation of the Rohingya Muslim Minority in Myanmar at a conference center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. Najib called on the Government of Myanmar to cease all discriminatory actions and attacks against the Rohingya's immediately and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. (AP Photo/Lim Huey Teng) (The Associated Press)

A staff member prepares for an extraordinary session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation foreign ministers on the situation of Myanmar's Rohingya Muslim minority at a conference center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said Wednesday that the OIC is expected to call for a halt to violence against Myanmar's Rohingya Muslim minority and for the safe return of refugees. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian) (The Associated Press)

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has urged the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to help end the persecution of Myanmar's Rohingya Muslim minority, as OIC foreign ministers open a special meeting to discuss the crisis.

Najib, in a speech at the meeting Thursday, said that the crisis is no longer Myanmar's internal affair as it has caused an exodus of refugees that could destabilize the region. He warned that the violence must end before terrorist organizations such as the Islamic State group infiltrate and radicalize the Rohingyas.

Security forces in Buddhist-majority Myanmar are accused of widespread abuses against the Rohingya, including killings, rape and the burning of thousands of homes that have driven an estimated 65,000 Rohingya across the border into Bangladesh in the past three months.