No Congregational Eid Prayer for Rohingya Muslims in Maungdaw
RB News
August 9, 2013
Maungdaw, Arakan – Authorities in Maungdaw Towship, Arakan State, banned congregational Eid prayer for Rohingya Muslims in Maungdaw, disallowing them to complete Eid prayer at all.
The curfew act 144 was imposed in the region since June of last year and yesterday the township administration extended it for two more months. They warned that they will take serious action if more than 5 people gather at any mosque, and also stuck the announcement on the notice board of the largest mosque in Maungdaw.
As today is one of the most important days for the Muslims in Myanmar and across the world, and the morning congregational prayer is the most important, the Rohingyas in Maungdaw are very upset that they have been barred from the prayer by the authorities.
Maungdaw, Arakan – Authorities in Maungdaw Towship, Arakan State, banned congregational Eid prayer for Rohingya Muslims in Maungdaw, disallowing them to complete Eid prayer at all.
The curfew act 144 was imposed in the region since June of last year and yesterday the township administration extended it for two more months. They warned that they will take serious action if more than 5 people gather at any mosque, and also stuck the announcement on the notice board of the largest mosque in Maungdaw.
As today is one of the most important days for the Muslims in Myanmar and across the world, and the morning congregational prayer is the most important, the Rohingyas in Maungdaw are very upset that they have been barred from the prayer by the authorities.
“We were expecting on a whim that the authorities would allow us to partake in the congregational Eid prayer, but when they said they will take serious action against gathering more than 5 people at the mosque, we knew that meant they will shoot us. We want to live peacefully, so we did not violate their horrible rule. It is serious human rights violation and it proves that we have no religious freedom here.” a Rohingya from Maungdaw told RB News.
Update:
Reports also coming in that Rohingya in Buthidaung are not being allowed to make Eid prayers. More to come as story develops.
