In Myanmar, a severe escalation in military aggression has put Christian and other religious minorities in a precarious position, prompting Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) to urge international intervention. Since the military coup in February 2021, the Myanmar armed forces have been systematically targeting religious sites and communities, according to reports from CSW and the Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) Network.
Over 220 churches have been demolished, and at least 85 religious leaders have been killed through airstrikes, shelling, and torture, highlighting the dire situation for religious communities. The Christian-majority Chin State has been hit particularly hard, with entire congregations displaced and places of worship obliterated under what CSW labels a “scorched-earth” policy.
Incidents of looting, landmine planting near worship sites, and the use of religious buildings as temporary military barracks have been reported. Urban areas, such as parts of Rakhine and Yangon, have seen bans on house church gatherings since 2023, while Christian communities are now required to submit attendance and worship schedules to local authorities.
The violence is not exclusive to Christian communities; Buddhist monasteries, mosques, and Rohingya Muslims have also been targeted. The military’s enforcement of the February 2024 conscription law has led to the forced recruitment of Rohingya Muslims, who are already facing genocide accusations at the International Court of Justice.
Rohingya civilians are reportedly being used as human shields in conflict zones, worsening ethnic tensions and further destabilizing their communities. Discrimination has also surfaced in disaster recovery efforts. After a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in March, religious buildings were only allowed to be rebuilt to their “original design and dimensions,” a restriction not imposed on Buddhist temples, leaving many churches and mosques in disrepair.
Min Aung Hlaing, the junta leader, has portrayed himself as a Buddhist protector, using nationalist militias to depict Christians and Muslims as foreign threats. CSW warns that this is part of the military’s “Four Cuts” strategy to dismantle community networks that provide essential services to displaced populations.
Mervyn Thomas, Founder President of CSW, emphasized the need for international action, stating, “The military junta must end all indiscriminate airstrikes on civilian targets, especially places of worship, schools, and hospitals.” He also called for the repeal of the 2024 conscription law, describing it as “a tool of persecution and to fuel the civil war.”
Thomas urged for the repeal of “discriminatory” administrative orders that hinder religious minorities from rebuilding worship sites and practicing their faith freely. He stated, “The international community must apply targeted sanctions on the supply of jet fuel to the Myanmar military and provide humanitarian aid that bypasses the junta and flows directly to local civil society and faith-based organizations.”
He further advocated for international accountability, suggesting support for Universal Jurisdiction cases to investigate attacks on religious sites as war crimes. “As Christians around the world prayed yesterday for the persecuted church, believers in Myanmar continue to face brutal repression. The junta’s deliberate targeting of churches and pastors must be recognized for what it is — an assault on faith itself,” Thomas concluded.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
