Page 148 - A Helping Hand for Refugees

Islam first came to Rakhine, part of the Far East and inside the bor-

ders of Burma (Myanmar) through Muslim travelers to the region in
the 8 th century. When Bengal adopted Islam in 1203, Rakhine came
under Muslim rule. Between 1430, when the region was conquered by
Muslims, and 1638, with a few exceptions, the rulers generally chose
to live by Islam. The Muslims settled in Rakhine are therefore the
descendants of Sulayman Shah, who was placed on the throne by the
Bengali Sultan Jalaluddin Muhammed Shah. 17

History confirms that the Rohingya Muslims who are now being
persecuted in their own lands, whose homes and villages are being
burned, whose mothers and daughters are being tortured and whose
men are being slaughtered, are the rightful owners of that territory. In

addition, Muslims have occupied important positions in the governing

146 A Helping Hand for Refugees