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Four Years On:
Myanmar’s Muslims Are Still Waiting for Justice
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For four years, the people of Myanmar have resisted the
military’s brutal attempt to seize power. They have stood in defiance
of dictatorship, risking everything for freedom. But for Myanmar’s
Muslim communities—Pathi, Rohingya, Pashu, Myaydu, Panthay, and
Kaman—this is not just a fight against a military junta. We are
fighting against a system determined to erase our identity and our
future in Myanmar.
We have warned, again and again, that the military and
other armed groups are committing mass atrocities against Muslims.
Time and time again, world leaders have failed to act. And so the
violence continues.
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“Myanmar's Muslim
minorities, being victims of state sponsored institutionalised
Islamophobia for many decades, the population has been exploited and
crippled in many aspects, their existence has been denied and their
survival is now in critical,” said Kyaw Win, Executive Director of
Burma Human Rights Network.
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On 8th January, the military bombed the
Kaman Muslim village of Kyauk Ni Maw, killing at least 42 people,
injured at least 50 people and destroying nearly 500 homes. In
October 2024, the junta and Pyu Saw Htee militia attacked Kyi Su
village, a Muslim village in Sagaing Region, burning down 400 homes
and two mosques. This is the third time this Muslim village has
been targeted. The military wanted to erase it. And they did. In
November 2024, junta troops and Pyu Saw Htee, the junta’s thugs
raided Buu Gyi village in Sagain Region where, large number of
Myanmar Muslim reside, abducted about 50 people under inscription law
and using them as human shield in front line.
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These are not isolated incidents. This is not a
conflict—it is the systematic destruction of a people, unfolding in
plain sight. The Arakan Army (AA) is doing the same in Rakhine
State. In May last year, they burned homes in Buthidaung and
forced entire Rohingya communities to flee. Later in
August, 200 Rohingya civilians were massacred by the AA
when they tried to cross the Naf River into Bangladesh. Those who
stayed behind now face mass starvation.
The failure of the international community to act is not
just negligence—it is complicity. For years, world leaders have
chosen to stand by as history repeats itself. The atrocities
unfolding today could have been prevented had governments
taken decisive action last year. And the year before that. Instead of
justice, we have seen silence. Instead of accountability, we have
seen statements of "deep concern." The United Nations has
failed to stop these crimes. Governments that claim to stand for
human rights have failed to hold the perpetrators accountable.
If world leaders are serious about stopping these
atrocities, they must cut off the junta’s access to weapons and
revenue. There must be stronger, enforceable sanctions—not
scattered, symbolic measures. The International Criminal Court (ICC)
must expand its investigation to include ongoing war crimes
and crimes against humanity committed since the 2021 coup.
Governments must pursue universal jurisdiction
cases against the junta and other armed actors responsible for
these crimes. No country should offer a safe haven to war criminals.
Justice cannot wait. Rohingya Muslim refugees in
Bangladesh are being pressured to return to Myanmar, where genocide
is still ongoing. Meanwhile, Muslims fleeing Myanmar in search of
safety in neighbouring and regional countries, are being arrested,
detained, and deported. These governments must stop forcing genocide
survivors back into the hands of their oppressors and instead ensure
their safety, legal protections, and dignity. The international
community must also act to establish humanitarian corridors to
deliver food, medicine, and aid to displaced Muslim communities
inside Myanmar.
For decades, Myanmar’s Muslims have been persecuted,
forced from their homes, and denied their most basic rights. The
military has spent years trying to erase them. And once again, the
world is watching in silence. However, we refuse to be silent or to let
these crimes be ignored. Myanmar’s Muslims cannot afford another
year of inaction. Immediate and concrete action is the only way
to prevent further atrocities.
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Organisation’s Background
BHRN is based in London, operates across Burma and
works for human rights, minority rights and religious freedom in
Burma. BHRN has played a crucial role in advocating for human rights
and religious freedom with politicians and world leaders.
Media Enquiries
Please contact:
Kyaw Win,
Executive Director
Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN)
E: kyawwin@bhrn.org.uk
T: +44(0) 740 345 2378
Ye Min
Editor
Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN)
E: ye.min@bhrn.org.uk
T: +66(0) 994 942 358
Wai Yan
Researcher
Burma Human Rights
Network (BHRN)
E: wai.yan@bhrn.org.uk
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