Islamic School of Maungdaw, Mayanmar

Arakan (IINA) : Myanmar’s authorities in restive Arakan State said they are planning to review the legality of the buildings, which the government said it will begin to demolish, including mosques and religious schools in the Muslim-majority city of Maungdaw.

State Minister of Security and Border Affairs Col. Htein Lin told a news conference that the buildings slated for demolition in the city of Maungdaw, will be subjected to scrutiny to determine whether they were legally constructed or not. He pointed out that the demolition has not started yet, although rumors spread in social media networks.

“If we find any buildings constructed illegally, will file a lawsuit and follow the court’s decision,” Lin said, pointing out that there are more than 3,000 illegal structures in Maungdaw, whose owners will face a fine or two years’ imprisonment, in case the lawsuit is proved against them.

Haji Maung Bar, a Muslim community leader from Maungdaw, was quoted by Myanmar Times as saying that he can’t figure out why the government want to demolish the existing mosques and Islamic schools. He added that the government has to find alternative sites in the event of their demolition, so that people can pray and attend school.