On March 15, 2014, the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People adopted the Appeal to the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation

Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People applied to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation member-states to use all their authority and influence to find the peaceful ways of settlement of the crisis in Crimea, because the events that have been developing in the peninsular are threatening to escalate into a global humanitarian catastrophe for its more than two million population – Russians, Ukrainians and especially the Crimean Tatar people whose traditional religion is Islam.

On March 15, 2014, the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People adopted the Appeal to the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation

The full text of the Appeal:

---

To Mr Iyad Ameen Madani,

Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation

March 15, 2014

Dear Mr Secretary General,

I am writing to you and the Member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

The events that have been developing in Ukraine and Crimea, in particular, are threatening to escalate into a global humanitarian catastrophe for its more than two million population – Russians, Ukrainians and especially the Crimean Tatar people whose traditional religion is Islam.

On February 27, 2014, the irresponsible Crimean politicians have committed a coup. At the same time the Russian Federation moved its troops into Crimea, being the part of the territory of sovereign Ukraine. Up to March 12 the number of Russian troops has exceeded 30 thousand soldiers. They have blocked all military bases of Ukraine, airports, and every entrance and exit from Crimea.

The multicultural population of Crimea is particularly anxious about the numerous paramilitary organizations both local and brought in along with the Russian troops. At the same time the civil population of the Crimean peninsular remains unarmed.

Such development of events threatens to escalate into interreligious conflict and a small Muslim indigenous people of Crimea – Crimean Tatars could become the main victim to it.

The situation is getting even worse as the foreign diplomats, representatives of the international organizations, military observers from OSCE are limited from entering Crimea.

Mr Robert Serry, Senior Advisor to the United Nations Secretary-General was threatened and forced to leave Crimea. This recent event testifies to a very anxious situation.

Dear Mr Secretary General,

Today the whole civilized world is expecting a turmoil that further escalation of the situation in Crimea and illegal violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine could cause.

The whole multiethnic Crimean population is extremely feared for the lives of their children, relatives and friends. Something irreversible can happen at any moment.

Dear Mr Secretary General,

In the middle of the 20^th century the Communist regime of the Soviet Union committed a genocide against the Crimean Tatars and now there is a great risk that they could suffer a new tragedy.

We ask you to use the authority and influence of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to find peaceful ways of settlement of this crisis.

We ask you to be decisive for the sake of the peace and justice, and protecting lives of hundreds of thousands of people living in Crimea.

Sincerely,

Refat Chubarov

Chairman, Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People