by Hafizur Rahman
Buthidaung, October 26, 2025 — Members of the Arakan Army (AA) have destroyed two centuries-old mosques in Ywet Nyo Taung and Kwan Dine villages of Buthidaung Township, Rakhine State, according to residents.
Villagers said both mosques were hundreds of years old and held deep historical and spiritual significance for the Rohingya community. The structures had survived previous waves of violence, including the burning of both villages in 2024, when the AA seized control of the area and forced many Rohingya families to flee.
“When our villages were burned last year, the mosques did not catch fire,” one resident told Rohingya Khobor. “But later, AA members returned and destroyed them deliberately.”
Another local witness said, “These mosques were symbols of our faith and history. Seeing them destroyed is heartbreaking. They connected us to our ancestors and reminded us of who we are.”
A third villager added, “The AA wants to erase every trace that proves Rohingya people have lived here for generations. Destroying our mosques means they are trying to wipe out our identity.”
The Arakan Army has not issued any official statement regarding the incident. However, community members and human rights observers believe the destruction is part of a broader effort to erase Rohingya cultural and religious heritage from northern Rakhine.
Residents fear that other historic mosques, cemeteries, and religious landmarks in the region could also be targeted in the coming months, deepening the cultural loss already suffered by Rohingya communities displaced by conflict and persecution.
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