KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s Islamic organisations council MAPIM has urged the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to intervene over restrictions on the repair and reconstruction of mosques in Myanmar following a devastating earthquake in March 2025.
The Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organizations (MAPIM) said in a statement dated Oct 12 that Muslim communities continued to face administrative barriers, unresolved permit applications and difficulties obtaining land documentation needed to rebuild damaged places of worship.
A report released by the Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN) on Oct 7 said 180 Islamic religious buildings across 29 townships were affected by the earthquake, while at least 670 Muslims were killed when mosques and other Islamic religious buildings collapsed.
More than a year after the disaster, affected communities still lacked adequate resources to repair and reconstruct their places of worship, MAPIM said, citing the report.
The council said restrictions on mosque repairs had existed before the earthquake, with communities facing difficulties obtaining official approval for essential structural work.
It said the restrictions reportedly continued after the disaster, obstructing the demolition of unsafe structures and reconstruction efforts, leaving some communities dependent on temporary prayer spaces.
MAPIM called on the OIC to engage its member states, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the United Nations and international human rights bodies to press for the removal of discriminatory barriers.
It also proposed an OIC-coordinated reconstruction programme covering structural assessments, debris clearance, building materials, financial assistance and earthquake-resistant rebuilding.
The council urged OIC member states, Islamic charitable institutions and international donors to provide financial and technical assistance through independent humanitarian channels.
It also called for United Nations human rights mechanisms to examine the reported restrictions and their consequences, and for allegations of religious discrimination and obstruction of humanitarian assistance to be independently investigated.
MAPIM said authorities exercising control in Myanmar should ensure that Muslim, Buddhist, Christian and other religious communities received equal treatment under transparent reconstruction and safety procedures.
The council’s president, Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid, said the OIC should demonstrate leadership through coordinated diplomacy, humanitarian assistance and engagement with international accountability mechanisms.
MAPIM said the international community should take concrete action to help affected communities restore their places of worship and protect their religious freedom.
The allegations concerning restrictions and their impact on reconstruction require independent scrutiny, the council said. – DETIK MALAYSIA
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