Reports have emerged that certain Buddhist monasteries in Myanmar, once respected as places of peace and learning, are being transformed into centers of extremist ideology. At the forefront of this disturbing trend is U Wirathu, widely condemned for inciting violence against Muslims, particularly during the Kyauk Sae massacres.
Photo: Lies of Criminal Mass Murderer Terrorist Trainer U Wira Thu turning Masoe Yein Monastry in Terrorist training camp
At the Masoe Yein (new) monastery in Mandalay, large vinyl posters — each measuring five feet by five feet — are prominently displayed. Their themes unmistakably promote global Islamophobia. One poster even depicts Muslims as perpetrators of violence against Christians in Northern Sudan, a clear attempt to spread fear and hatred.
Wirathu’s campaign is not confined to Mandalay. He has traveled to Ye Za Gyo and other regions across Myanmar, delivering inflammatory speeches that vilify Islam and encourage division. These activities, carried out under the guise of religious authority, are tarnishing the reputation of Buddhism worldwide.
It is imperative that relevant authorities, media outlets, and international Buddhist associations be informed of this dangerous propaganda. While Buddhism is globally recognized as a religion of compassion, in Myanmar extremist monks are exploiting monasteries as training grounds for hate and violence.
If this trajectory continues unchecked, there is a real risk that international communities and Islamic organizations may begin to perceive Buddhism itself as a terrorist religion, and Myanmar as an anti-Islamic state. Such a perception would be catastrophic, not only for Myanmar’s global standing but also for the integrity of Buddhism.
History reminds us that the spread of Buddhism in Burma was not without bloodshed, as seen in the massacre of Tha Thone (Suvanna Bumi). Today, extremist monks are once again distorting the faith, turning sacred spaces into ideological battlegrounds.
The lies and propaganda of U Wirathu — a criminal mass murderer and self-styled “terrorist trainer” — must be exposed and challenged before they cause further harm.
