Event Held Condemning the Mass Killing of Muslims by the Myanmar Military in 2017

News ၊ August 26, 2026

Photo - ABN

A commemoration event condemning the atrocities and remembering the Muslim lives lost during the violence in northern Arakan in August and September 2017 was held today, August 26.  

The event was organized by the Muslim Affairs Council with logistical support from the ULA/AA, according to the organizers.  

The event was attended by local Muslim residents, religious leaders, and community representatives. It focused primarily on honoring those who lost their lives in the 2017 events, ensuring that the pain of the survivors is not forgotten, and preventing similar violent acts from recurring in the future.  

Banners expressing the attitudes of the attendees regarding the 2017 events were also displayed at the venue.  

AB News observed banners on-site displaying slogans such as "We reject ARSA extremist terrorists!" and "Murderous, terrorist Myanmar military must fall!".  

These slogans reflect the views and demands of the organizers and some attendees, recorded by AB News as the voices emerging from the event.  

On August 25, 2017, ARSA attacked at least 28 security posts belonging to the military council in northern Arakan, after which the Myanmar military and security forces launched operations in the region.  

In the subsequent weeks and months, a severe humanitarian crisis unfolded in Maungdaw, Buthidaung, and other townships in northern Arakan, resulting in the loss of many Muslim lives and mass displacement.  

International human rights organizations and UN investigations have documented that civilian killings, arson of villages, sexual violence, and other severe human rights violations were committed during the Myanmar security forces' operations.  

According to surveys conducted by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) among Muslim refugees in Bangladesh, it was estimated that at least 9,000 Muslims died in Arakan within one month, between August 25 and September 24, 2017.  

MSF reported that at least 6,700 of those deaths were due to violence, including at least 730 children under the age of five.

Based on broader sampling extrapolations, MSF estimated total deaths during the first 31 days to be between 9,425 and 13,759, with violent deaths estimated between 6,759 and 9,867.

However, MSF clarified that these figures are survey-based estimates rather than individually verified casualty lists.

According to data from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), over 750,000 Muslims fled to Bangladesh following the severe military operations in Arakan in August 2017.

Attendees expressed that even after nine years, the tragedies of 2017 remain unforgettable, and they gathered to honor those who lost their lives.

"Even after many years, we cannot forget our lost family members and the events that transpired. Today's gathering is to remember the lives lost and to warn future generations so that such tragedies never happen again," said a Muslim man who attended.

Other attendees stated that building a future where civilian lives and dignity are protected, as well as obtaining truth and justice for past atrocities, is crucial.

A leader from the Muslim community who participated in the event stated that the event aimed not only to recall past pain, but also to draw lessons for the future.

"We are gathering today not to spread hatred, but to remember those who died, to never forget the truth of what happened, and to build peace and mutual understanding so that no community suffers such pain in the future," he said.

He added that there is a need to rebuild mutual respect and trust among all ethnic and religious communities residing in the region.

An official from the ULA/AA also spoke at the event, stating that past conflicts and violence were painful lessons for all local communities.

"Past conflicts and violence are painful lessons for everyone. In the future, all ethnic and religious communities living in this region must be able to live safely and with dignity. We must all cooperate to avoid violence and build mutual understanding and peace," he said.

Following the 2017 events, hundreds of thousands of Muslims from Arakan were displaced, with many fleeing to Bangladesh. Years later, survivors and their families continue to endure the impacts of those events.

The Muslim community noted that the event held today in Buthidaung was a call to remember the victims, condemn the violence that occurred during the 2017 events, prevent similar incidents in the future, and demand peaceful coexistence for all communities regardless of ethnicity or religion.

Source@ABN