Most Burman tribal members are Buddhist, while the Chin and Karen people groups identify as Christian. Churches in Myanmar are growing despite widespread persecution by the government and the Buddhist majority. The Burman ethnic majority dominates and oppresses the other tribal groups. While political change has been frequently discussed, only superficial change has occurred, and the military still effectively controls the country.
The Myanmar military recently imposed new restrictions on Christian prayer services in Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine state. Churches are no longer allowed to display crosses and, according to police instructions, must submit lists of attendees and obtain prior authorisation from local police stations to hold services.
“Last month, we installed a cross, a symbol of our faith, to identify the Christian church here, but the police came and demanded it be removed,” one congregant said. “We had prayed before putting it up, so we refused to take it down ourselves and instead asked them to remove it.”
Despite holding an official permit from the authorities, the church now faces additional restrictions, including the requirement to submit attendance lists and service schedules in advance.
Concerns about religious freedom are also growing among Christian minorities in areas controlled by the Arakan Army.
This new restriction adds to a growing list of measures that have steadily eroded religious freedoms in the region, prompting widespread concerns about the future of minority religious communities under the current regime.
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