Fortify Rights Accuses Arakan Army of Crimes Against Muslims
Fortify Rights, a human rights organization that investigates human rights violations, has released a report alleging that members of the Arakan Army (AA) have committed crimes against Muslims in Rakhine State.
According to the statement issued on July 23, Fortify Rights accuses AA members of abducting, torturing, and killing Muslims. The organization states that it interviewed 39 Muslims, including 8 women, who are either survivors of the alleged attacks or eyewitnesses. Their testimonies were analyzed alongside photographic and video evidence documenting the alleged crimes.
Fortify Rights claims that the Arakan Army is responsible for these crimes and that its members have clearly violated the laws of war. The organization is urging the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate what it describes as serious crimes committed in Rakhine State.
The report references an 18-second video clip, filmed on a mobile phone, which shows five bodies near a small fish pond—four of which were reportedly beheaded. Fortify Rights says it has obtained this footage as evidence.
The incident was also documented in the September 2024 report of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). According to Fortify Rights, the crime was committed by Arakan Army troops on April 17, 2024, in northern Maungdaw Township.
Fortify Rights sent a letter to the Arakan Army on July 14, 2025, requesting a meeting to discuss the allegations. In response, the AA requested detailed information about the incidents mentioned.
On July 18, Fortify Rights replied with a three-page document providing the requested information. Following this, the Arakan Army reportedly rejected Fortify Rights’ claims.
Fortify Rights, however, maintains that the AA has committed crimes against Muslims and that there is credible evidence to support the allegations. The group continues to call on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate.
