Myanmar Solution Vital as Calls for Jihad Intensify

TODAY

18 September 2017

Remy Mahzam

Worsening tensions between Rohingya Muslims and Buddhists in Rakhine have sparked a wave of anti-Buddhist sentiments across South-east Asia. Pro-Islamist groups as well as sympathisers from Indonesia and Malaysia have shared videos and photographs of the alleged atrocities by Myanmar’s security forces against the Rohingya on social media as well as on mobile communication platforms.

Foreign fighters who have previously set eyes on Marawi in southern Philippines will eventually turn their attention to Myanmar as the situation deteriorates. The Rohingya crisis may pave the way for future IS networks, and for its affiliates to collaborate with hardline Islamist groups in the region. The networking of the various extremist groups may soon grow if an IS wilayah or region is to be established in Rakhine.

… Remy Mahzam is an Associate Research Fellow and Muhammad Ansar a Research Analyst at the International Centre for Political Violence & Terrorism Research, a unit of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS). This first appeared in RSIS Commentary.

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Last updated on 18/09/2017