The venerable Azhar institution expressed deep concern as it learnt of the death of 13 teenage students from smoke-inhalation in a fire that burnt their dormitory at an Islamic school adjacent to a mosque in the central Yangon neighborhood in Burma.

The mosque itself was torched by extremist Buddhists in the early hours of Tuesday morning, amid a wave of systematic violence against Myanmar Muslims.

In an official statement, Al-Azhar said: "With deep sadness and regret, we share the grief and pain of the victims' families in this tragic loss, confident that God will accept these children as honorable Martyrs.

Al-Azhar further called on authorities to open a serious and urgent investigation to find out the reasons and circumstances of the incident, appealing at the same time to international human rights organizations and nations of the free world to extend a helping hand to the people of Burma, calling for respect for minority rights, and compassion for human suffering.