Is it safe for Muslim to visit Myanmar?

The northern parts of Shan State, the state of Kachin above that, Southern Chin, and Rakhine State (home to Rohingya Muslims) are hectic to visit and sometimes totally off-limits. Certain towns within these areas, like Hsi Paw in Shan are ok to travel to but, overall, the areas around them are generally not safe.

Are Muslims allowed in Myanmar?

Myanmar is a Buddhist majority country, with significant Christian and Muslim minorities. While Muslims served in the government of Prime Minister U Nu (1948–63), the situation changed with the 1962 Burmese coup d’état.

Is Burmese a Muslim country?

Officially, 4\% of the inhabitants of Myanmar are Muslim. In this predominantly Buddhist country, Muslims are often discriminated against by the powerful nationalist movement that strives to protect Buddhist identity, thus creating a struggle for minority groups.

Is Mandalay safe?

Mandalay, much like most tourist hot-spots in Myanmar, is perfectly safe. Crimes against tourists are very rare, petty theft is virtually non-existent, and there have been very few reports of visitors receiving any hassle at all in Mandalay.

Who are Muslims in Myanmar?

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.

What are the Muslims in Myanmar called?

The Rohingya, who numbered around one million in Myanmar at the start of 2017, are one of the many ethnic minorities in the country. Rohingya Muslims represent the largest percentage of Muslims in Myanmar, with the majority living in Rakhine state.

How Islam came to Myanmar?

The Muslims arrived in Burma’s Ayeyarwady River delta, on the Tanintharyi coast and in Rakhine in the 9th century, prior to the establishment of the first Burmese empire in 1055 AD by King Anawrahta of Bagan. The sea posts of Burma such as Kyaukpyu, Bassein, Syriam, Martaban, Mergui, etc.

Is Myanmar Sunni or Shia?

Muslims in Burma, most of whom are Sunni, constitute at least 4 per cent of the country’s entire population, with the largest concentration in the north of Rakhine State (also known as Arakan), especially around Maungdaw, Buthidaung, Rathedaung, Akyab and Kyauktaw.