Today, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has released an update to its October 2022 report entitled: “Violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief since the coup d’état in Myanmar”. This publication provides an overview of the violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief perpetrated in the period between the 2021 military coup, on 1 February 2021, and 30 April 30 2023, and updates the data presented in the October 2022 report
In the aftermath of the coup, the military initially focused on limiting the rights to freedom of expression and information by suppressing the media and internet access. The military’s focus has since widened to include suppression of the right to freedom of religion or belief with raids and attacks on places of worship, leading to damage and destruction.
As of 30 April 2023, two years and two months following the coup, the military continued to commit acts of violence and widespread violations of human rights across the entire country. The updated report published today documents the notable escalation in indiscriminate airstrikes on civilian populations and religious infrastructure. In addition, the ICJ’s recent findings indicate a concerning rise in the use of religious and sacred sites for military purposes, including as bases, detention centres, interrogation centres, and even as killing fields in certain conflict zones.
In the initial phases of the coup, the military focused on Buddhist clergy believed to be associated with the anti-coup movement or having ties to people’s defence forces. Since 2022, there has been an increasing trend of targeted attacks and arrest of ethnic Christian clergy based on their ethnicity. Documenting the circumstances of imprisoned clergies from various religious communities is becoming increasingly challenging due to the junta’s repression with human rights lawyers being arrested and detained arbitrarily.
In light of the findings, the report presents a set of recommendations aimed at the United Nations and the international community. These recommendations serve as a call to action, urging swift measures to address the violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief and ensure its preservation in Myanmar.
This report is part of a series of ICJ publications on the right to freedom of religion or belief.
To download the report, click here
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