Myanmar minister under fire over anti-Muslim remarks

Myanmar’s minister of religious affairs and culture has come under fire for his offensive comments about Muslims in the Southeast Asian country.

In a recent interview, Thura Aung Ko claimed that Islam in Myanmar is the religion of “minority associate citizens” who acquired citizenship through the 1948 Union Citizenship Law.

The London-based Myanmar Muslim Association in a statement on Monday objected to "the irresponsible comments” by the minister.

The statement stressed that full rights for Muslims were enshrined in Myanmar’s several constitutions.

“Islam is stated as a religion of full citizenship in three constitutions of the country drafted in 1947, 1974 and 2008," it said, adding, “The Islam religion had arrived in Myanmar since before Bagan era [AD 652-660].”

Earlier this month, the minister also said that "Islam is the religion of most of the country's guest citizens,” when he was asked a question on how to prevent religious discrimination in the Southeast Asian country.

He also referred to Christians as full-fledged citizens and emphasized that Buddhism has become the preferential religion in Myanmar. "The greater role of Buddhism has caused that of other religions to look dimmer. For that reason, the guest citizens of ethnic minorities might have a wrong view."

Last month, Myanmar's ruling party leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, was reportedly angered to have been interviewed by a Muslim journalist in 2013.

SS