UN and International Mechanisms Accused of Failing to Document Jihadist Atrocities Against Non-Muslims in Northern Arakan

 

International human rights mechanisms, including the United Nations, are facing growing criticism for their failure to adequately document and acknowledge mass atrocities committed by Islamist jihadist groups against non-Muslim communities in northern Arakan, according to analysts and local observers.

A November 2, 2025 analysis by Kyaw Zan published on Global Arakan Network describes this omission as a form of “calculated erasure,” arguing that sustained violence by armed Islamist groups has been systematically overlooked in international reporting and advocacy. Groups identified in the report include the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO), Rohingya Islamist Militia (RIM), and the Arakan Rohingya Army (ARA).

According to documented accounts, these groups have allegedly targeted Rakhine Buddhists, Hindus, Mro, Thet, and Khami communities through a campaign of intimidation and violence. Reported acts include the burning of villages, summary executions of farmers, and the killing of Hindu civilians, including women who were burned alive during attacks.

The report further alleges that Mro elders have been beheaded for refusing to pay zakat, with severed heads displayed publicly to instill fear. Religious and cultural sites, including Buddhist temples, have reportedly been destroyed using explosives, while Khami hill regions are said to have been seized and converted into militant training camps. The abduction of Thet children has also been cited as part of these operations.

Since January 2024, ARSA alone is accused of killing more than 50 civilians, injuring at least 10 others, and detaining over 20 individuals who are presumed dead. Videos circulated by the group reportedly label non-Muslim populations as kafir and openly call for the “cleansing” of land from indigenous communities.

Local observers warn that the lack of comprehensive documentation by international bodies not only distorts the reality on the ground but also deepens the vulnerability of minority communities in northern Arakan. They argue that selective attention to violence undermines accountability and risks emboldening armed groups to continue attacks with impunity.

Calls are growing for the United Nations and international investigative mechanisms to expand their scope, apply consistent standards, and ensure that all victims of violence—regardless of religion or ethnicity—are recognized and protected under international law.

https://x.com/globalarakannet/status/2008525710177055201?s=20