Thousands of Muslims have lost their lives in Burma during the clashes.
(Web Desk) - Violence against a Muslim minority in Myanmar is feeding a wider anti-Muslim feeling that poses a serious threat to the country s dramatic economic and political reforms as it emerges from half a century of military rule.

The government said that over 30,000 minority Rohingya Muslims(Muslims living in Burma) have been murdered and thousands others injured in attacks clashes between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims, most of whom Myanmar deem illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, despite roots going back generations.

The clashes led to unrest elsewhere in the country, where other groups of Muslims have been targeted, including Kamans, who are of different ethnicity from Rohingyas. An estimated 5 percent of Myanmar s population of about 60 million is Muslim.

"The president (Thein Sein) has made some commendable public speeches in which he has emphasized the need for trust, respect and compassion between people of different faiths and ethnic groups in Myanmar," said Tomas Ojea Quintana, U.N. special rapporteur on the situation in human rights in Myanmar.

"The situation in Rakhine State has fed a wider anti-Muslim narrative in Myanmar, which is posing one of the most serious threats to the reform process," Quintana said. "Rakhine State remains in a situation of profound crisis”, he added.

According to the BBC News, the first and the most deadly incident began in June 2012 when clashes between Rakhine Buddhists and Muslims claimed lives of 200 people. It was said to be the rape and murder case of a young Buddhist woman.

On the other hand, President Barack Obama urged the president of Myanmar on Monday to halt violence against a Muslim minority but praised economic and political reforms in the formerly pariah nation that is emerging as a U.S. ally in China s backyard.

Burma Muslims bore the brunt of the violence during these clashes and ethnic riots.

Twitterati have taken to the social media platform to mourn over the brutal killings of Muslims in Rakhine and urged the United Nations (UN) to halt this hostility. Violence against Burma Muslims is currently trending on Twitter as #UNMustSaveBurmaMuslims.

Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar showed ocncerns over the brutal massacre of Muslims in Burma.
On the other hand, former cricket player Rameez Raza also denounced the Burma violence.