21st, April 2017, M-Media
 |
| A file photo of Muslims in Tharkayta township taken by Buddhist nationalists used to stoke anti-Muslim sentiment on social media |
– Administrative
officials from Tharkayta Township of commercial capital Yangon urged Muslims to
stop holding services in Islamic religious schools warning that they have no
power to stop nationalists if something happens, local weekly news journal
Friday Times reports on their Facebook page.
In recent days, some
Buddhist nationalists have stoked anti-Muslim rhetoric on social media
concerning the practicing of religious duties by Muslims in Thaykayta Township
including Friday prayer in some Mandrasas which used for religious classes for
Muslim children.
 |
| A facebook post that inciting anti-Muslim rhetoric concerning the Muslim who are practising of their religious rights granted by constitution |
“At 3 pm, in
township administration office, they (officials) told us not to hold services in
religious schools and also warned they will have no power to response except to
stand and see if something happenes.” said a Muslim resident from Anawmar
quarter who doesn’t want to share his name due to sensitivity of issue, Friday
Times reports.
He also said, in the
afternoon of April 21st, some people, who are not the members of government
institutions, have gathered surrounding area of the Mandrasa situated in
Anawmar 12th Street and took some photos and videos of Muslims who came out of
the place after finishing their Friday Prayer.
Weekly Journal also
reported that the warning from township officials to Muslim residents may be
the pressure of nationalist groups and township administrator refused to answer
their call.
In November 2015,
representatives from eights Muslim religious schools in the area were forced by
nationalists and local officials to sign an unofficial paper stated that
holding religious services in these places are illegal.
Since the
establishment of Tharkayta Township, local Muslims have used those Mandarasas
to fulfill their daily religious duties for not having a permit to build a
Mosque.
Although country’s
2008 Constitution grants freedom of worship for all religious minorities
including Islam, Muslims in Myanmar are being targeted, abused and even
assaulted in some cases by Buddhist Nationalists who are active after the
democratic change in 2011.
**
Ref: Facebook page
of Friday Times Weekly Journal
 |
| A young man believed to be control of the account (Myant Phone Mo) that was the main promoter of anti-Muslim hate speeches about Tharkayta Township |