In Maungdaw Township, the Arakan Army (AA) has reportedly coerced 16 Rohingya Islamic scholars into forming an unlawful Islamic Religious Council, according to accounts from local residents.
Furthermore, locals told wsnews24.com that the AA is pressuring educated people from each Rohingya village to establish additional Islamic councils. They believe the AA intends to use these councils as a tool to legitimize its widespread criminal activities in the eyes of the international community.
“I personally witnessed AA soldiers forcibly recruiting one of my friends into the religious council,” a local resident told wsnews24.com.
Rohingya community members have condemned these actions, stating that the AA is exploiting religion as a cover without their consent. Many residents expressed deep concern about the AA’s manipulation of religious affairs under coercion.
