ISLAM AND BUDDHISM IN

MYANMAR

RELIGIONS IN MALAYSIAFIM 1123

1. HOW ISLAM CAME TO MYANMAR

2.HOW BUDDHISM CAME TO MYANMAR

HISTORICAL STORY

HISTORY OF ISLAM IN MYANMAR

•The first Muslims (9th century) had landed:

1.Myanmar (Burma's) Ayeyarwady River delta

2.Tanintharyi Coast 

3. Rakhine

•Prior to the establishment of the first Myanmar (Burmese) empire in 1055 AD by King Anawrahta of Bagan

• Propagation of Islam & Muslim settlements (9th century):1. Arab 2. Persian3. European4. Chinese

• The current population of Myanmar Muslims are the descendants of Arabs, Persians, Turks, Moors, Indian-Muslims, sheikhs, Pakistanis, Pathans, Bengalis, Chinese Muslims and Malays who settled and intermarried with local Burmese and many ethnic Myanmar groups such as, Rakhine, Shan, Karen, Mon etc

HISTORY OF BUDDHISM IN MYANMAR

• More than 2000 years• Sasana Vamsa (Pinyasami/1834) –

summarizes Buddhism history in Burma.• Theravada Buddhism – first time implanted

at Pagan (early 11th century) by Burmese King Anawratha (1044-1077 AD).

• 1057 - Anawratha sent an army, conquer the Mon city of Thaton in order to obtain the Tipitaka Buddhist canon.

• During the British administration of Lower and Upper Burma (Burma Proper) government policies were secular - monks were not protected by law.

• There was much opposition (including by the Irish monk U Dhammaloka) to the efforts by Christian missionaries to convert the Burmese people, Bamar, Shan, Mon, Rakhine and plains Karen, with one exception - the hill tribes.

• 1948 - country gained its independence from Great Britain, both civil and military governments have supported Theravada Buddhism.

• The Ministry of Religious Affairs (1948) - responsible for administering Buddhist affairs in Burma.

CURRENT ISSUES IN BURMA

MUSLIMS IN BURMA

PrologueThe

MassacreMutual Trust

PROLOGUE

1- The Burmese king Bayintnaung (1550-1589 ) imposed restrictions uponhis Muslim subjects. No Qurban , Eid Fitri

2- King Bodawpaya (1782-1819) arrested 4 Imams and killed (eat pork)

3- Riot & Racism 1930 (British Era)

4- Burma for Burmese Campaign

5- Inquiry Committee of British , promote equality

6- Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League ( AFPFL) by General Aung San & U Nu , Burmese Muslim Congres (BMC) joined AFPFL in 1948

CLIMAX

Ne Win's coup d'état (1962)

Anti-Muslim riots in Mandalay (1997)

Expelled Muslim armyAccused Muslim as Terrorist

The Massacre

Myanmar Muslims, Buddhists urged to build mutual trust

"OIC is not a religious organization and was not in Myanmar to spread Islam or to help Muslims only, but to help all people affected by violence without discrimination" - Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

“Myanmar wants to become a federal democratic country by 2015 and is seeking international support,” - Mohammed Rauf Rafi, secretary-general of the European Rohingya Council