The military council’s Ministry of Religious Affairs has issued a directive stating that mosques and Christian churches damaged by the Sagaing earthquake must be rebuilt only according to their original specifications. However, in practice, the council has completely suspended both construction and demolition permits. While Buddhist pagodas and monasteries are allowed to be rebuilt according to preference, mosques and Christian churches face strict regulations. The authorities are demanding original documentation and records for religious building reconstruction and have announced multiple levels of scrutiny will be implemented.
According to a mosque committee member from Myingyan Township, no repairs have been permitted even after more than a month since the earthquake. The township administration office and religious affairs department are requesting original building records, which are difficult to locate for structures that are decades old. Furthermore, applications must be personally reviewed by the Minister of Religious Affairs and submitted to high-ranking military council leaders, leading to significant delays in the process. The reconstruction approval process for mosques and churches requires submissions through multiple administrative levels, starting from township level, then district, state/region government, Ministry of Religious Affairs, and finally to the top military council leadership.
In contrast, Buddhist religious buildings have received immediate attention and reconstruction support from the military council since the earthquake, with assistance from Sitagu Sayadaw and private companies. The March 28 earthquake destroyed between 50 to 60 mosques and resulted in hundreds of Muslim casualties. Worshippers are now facing difficulties without proper places for prayer during the rainy season. The stark difference in treatment between Buddhist and non-Buddhist religious buildings has created significant challenges for affected religious communities, with Muslim and Christian worshippers particularly impacted by the restrictive reconstruction policies.
