Local residents and sources close to prison authorities in Sittwe, the capital of Myanmar’s Rakhine State, say that around 100 Muslim civilians have been detained and imprisoned on allegations of links to the Arakan Army (AA).
According to local accounts, arrests have continued since renewed armed conflict escalated in 2023, with a growing number of Muslim residents from Sittwe reportedly detained throughout 2026.
A source familiar with the Sittwe prison system said that nearly 100 Muslim detainees are currently being held in the city’s prison facility this year alone.
Sittwe remains under the control of Myanmar’s military authorities, where curfew restrictions are in force and residents report severe limitations on movement. Local communities say security forces have increasingly targeted civilians under broad security allegations.
Residents also report that many people, including Muslims and other local communities, are effectively confined within the city and are unable to travel freely, including to nearby coastal areas for fishing or livelihood activities.
In earlier years, particularly in 2024 and 2025, villagers from areas surrounding Sittwe were reportedly displaced by military operations and have since been sheltering in monasteries and temporary shelters inside the city.
Local reports also allege that civilians from nearby villages have been arrested and prosecuted under security-related laws, including Section 17(1), leading to imprisonment.
Residents say that although some civilians wish to move to areas outside military control, restrictions imposed by authorities prevent their departure, leaving many effectively trapped within Sittwe.
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