The instability of Pakistan amid the recent Imran Khan political crisis highlights a wider regional geopolitical security threat. The arrest of the former prime minister demonstrates a growing divide over Islamic jihad activity in the country, particularly in the Kashmir regions and other territories where sectarian violence is commonplace. Jihad activity has been growing in […]
Myanmar: Muslim teen slits the throat of Buddhist civil servant
“When you meet the unbelievers, strike the necks…” (Qur’an 47:4) “Myanmar Junta Police Arrest Muslim Teen After Civil Servant’s Murder,” The Irrawaddy, December 23, 2021 (thanks to The Religion of Peace): Following the killing of a General Administration Department clerk at Maungdaw Township in northern Rakhine State, a Muslim teenager has been arrested with evidence, […]
Myanmar: Muslim charges hate speech against pol who said if someone insulted Muhammad, “Muhammad will bomb them”
U Hla Swe said: “They [the US] can insult three out of four religions. But do they dare touch Muhammad? I doubt the US is that brave. If they do, Muhammad will bomb them with an airplane. They are afraid of that.” That’s what he is being sued for. U San Aung said: “As a […]
Seven Days in Rakhine: Day Five — A Tour of No-Go Zones In Sittwe
While Rick Heizman was busy all day with translations, a journalist friend arrived to give me a tour of Sittwe. An obvious feature in downtown Sittwe is a No-Go Zone guarded by security forces. There are several No-Go Zones in Sittwe since the 2012 Islamic insurgency, but the one in downtown Sittwe is different, because […]
Seven Days in Rakhine: Day Four — Victims of Jihad Tell Their Stories
When we arrived in Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine, Rick Heizman had a delegation of people waiting for him to discuss his victim testimonies for the Independent Commission Of Enquiry (ICOE). This independent commission was set up to collect a database of victims from the 2017 insurgency by the ARSA Rohingya terrorists. The body of […]
Seven Days in Rakhine: Day Three — Some Truth About the Murder of Ma Thida Htwe (Part 3)
From the interviews we learned the truth: in life, Ma Thida Htwe was a pious, peaceful, kind and loving person who came from a loving family that did nothing to deserve this evil. From these hours we spent with the victim’s family, we gathered much information about this important crime in a very remote place. […]
Seven Days in Rakhine: Day Three — Some Truth About the Murder of Ma Thida Htwe (Part 2)
The family friend started by explaining some background to the situation. He was the person who found her mutilated body after the intensive search, but was sentenced to a year in jail for posting the infamous pictures of the body from the crime scene on social media. There is a large population of Bengalis in […]
Seven Days in Rakhine: Day Three — Some Truth About the Murder of Ma Thida Htwe (Part 1)
Few murder cases have had the impact on a country that the horrific case of Ma Thida Htwe had. On May 28, 2012, Ma Thida Htwe was gang raped, robbed and murdered by three Bengali Muslims in the district south of Kyauk Phyu at the edge of Ramree Island. The murder of Ma Thida Htwe […]
Seven Days in Rakhine: Day Two — The Bengali Siege of Kyauk Phyu
The 2012 siege of Kyauk Phyu began at the mosque near the edge of the Muslim quarter situated between two ethnic Rakhine areas, which is now an empty field. In order to reach the town center, ethnic Rakhines needed to cross the Bengali village. Adjacent to the now overgrown field remains a derelict house, which […]
Seven Days in Rakhine: Day One — The Kyauk Phyu No-Go Zone
The day is bright and sunny, another fresh day as you go to the market stalls to get some things for supper. However, on the way you begin to hear frightened screaming, and wonder at the commotion. Then you start seeing smoke and fire, and people are running for their lives. As you continue through […]