Myanmar Junta Accused of Blocking Mosque Repairs After Devastating Earthquake

What happened

The Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN) reports in a newly launched study presented at Bangkok’s Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand that Myanmar’s military regime systematically restricts reconstruction of mosques damaged by the March 2025 earthquake. The report details extensive bureaucratic hurdles preventing repair approvals.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. According to BHRN, although more than 70 mosques in Mandalay region applied for reconstruction permits, only four have been approved, with the Panthay Mosque as the sole facility authorized for full rebuild. The group accuses the military government of attempting to “erase” Muslim historical presence by denying reconstruction permits in Mandalay.

The earthquake collapsed over 180 mosques nationwide, killing an estimated 670 Muslims, primarily due to the structural weaknesses of aging buildings. BHRN highlights that routine maintenance requests have long been rejected by successive military regimes since 1962, contributing to the vulnerability of Muslim religious sites.

Known from the source

• The 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28, 2025.
• At least 180 mosques collapsed during the earthquake with an estimated 670 Muslim fatalities attributed to the collapse.
• More than 70 damaged mosques in Mandalay applied for reconstruction permits; only four were approved.
• The Panthay Mosque in Mandalay is the only one authorized for complete reconstruction.
• 183 mosques were damaged or destroyed nationwide during the earthquake.

What remains unclear

Damage was widespread: 183 mosques were reported damaged or destroyed across Myanmar, with a concentration in Mandalay Region (152), followed by Naypyidaw (15), Bago Region (8), Sagaing Region (6), and southern Shan State (2). Nationwide casualties from the quake number at least 4,477, with nearly 3,000 deaths in Mandalay Region alone, DVB records show.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Verify the exact number of mosque reconstruction permits granted by the junta and any official statements on these policies. Confirm casualty figures specifically attributed to mosque collapses and overall earthquake deaths from independent or government sources. Authenticate claims that military regimes since 1962 have systematically rejected maintenance and renovations of Muslim religious sites.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: DVB English. Open the source.