By: Camp Correspondent
Maungdaw, Arakan State — April 2, 2025
The Arakan Army (AA), operating under the United League of Arakan (ULA), has imposed a sweeping night-time curfew across northern Maungdaw, barring all movement between 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM. The order has sparked distress and resentment among Rohingya Muslims, who say the measure directly infringes on their right to worship, especially during the holy month of Ramadan.
“This curfew prevents us from attending the mosque for Maghrib, Isha, and Fajr prayers,” said Mohammad Ismail, a Rohingya elder in Maungdaw. “Congregational prayer is central to our faith, especially during Ramadan. Now, we’re forced to stay indoors and abandon centuries-old traditions out of fear.”
Curfew Undermines Core Religious Practices
Islam requires five daily prayers, and three of them—Maghrib (around 6:15 PM), Isha (7:50 PM), and Fajr (5:15 AM)—fall within the restricted hours. For the Rohingya, already marginalized in their own homeland, the inability to gather for worship deepens their sense of isolation and oppression.
“I hear the call to prayer from the mosque every day,” said Abdur Rahim, a youth from Kyain Chaung. “But I can’t go. We’re afraid the AA might punish us even if we step outside just to pray.”
Local Rohingya leaders say the curfew reflects broader restrictions on the community’s religious and cultural life. “The ULA/AA claims to represent all ethnic groups,” said Noor Jahan, a Rohingya woman from Maungdaw. “But our rights to pray and practice Islam freely are being denied. What kind of equality is that?”
A Pattern of Suppression
The AA’s curfew order threatens arrest or other legal action against anyone caught outside after dark. Rohingya residents say the measure is not applied equally across communities and appears aimed primarily at restricting them.
“This isn’t just about security,” said a community leader who requested anonymity. “It’s about controlling the Rohingya. We are being systematically excluded, not just from administration or education—but now even from our own mosques.”
In a region where Rohingya Muslims have long faced curfews, checkpoints, and movement restrictions, this new directive adds to the list of daily hardships.
Faith Remains, Despite Fear
In response, some families have begun holding group prayers inside their homes, determined to keep their faith alive despite the constraints. “Even if we cannot go to the mosque, our prayers will continue,” said Mohammad Ismail. “But our hearts are heavy. Ramadan should be a time of unity and spiritual freedom—not fear.”
Human rights observers note that the latest curfew order adds to the growing body of evidence that the Rohingya continue to face restrictions under the new power structures in Arakan, despite promises of inclusive governance by the Arakan Army.
As Ramadan continues, the community prays not only for spiritual peace—but for the restoration of their right to worship freely in their own homeland.
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