Junta accused of extorting money from detained Muslims in Sittwe

By Admin 02 Feb 2026

DMG Newsroom

2 February 2026, Sittwe

Myanmar’s military regime is reportedly extorting money from detained Muslims in Sittwe, the capital of Arakan State, in exchange for their release, according to local Muslim sources.

Although some detainees have been released from prison, they are being held in various urban wards under junta control, where families are forced to pay 2.5 million kyats per person to secure their freedom.

“Even though they were released from prison, they are relocated to houses in other wards and kept under surveillance. When families go to collect them, they must pay 2.5 million kyats per person. Their so-called release is only for show,” a Muslim man in Sittwe told DMG.

The regime reportedly released 100 Muslim women on January 29, followed by 60 Muslim men on January 30, with additional detainees released on January 31. However, these individuals remain under house arrest in Bawdupha, Bumay, and Aung Mingalar wards.

Local sources said the detainees were originally from Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Minbya, and Kyauktaw townships.

According to residents, the junta has been arresting Muslims attempting to leave Arakan State by sea due to severe economic hardship. Those arrested are later detained in Sittwe Prison, IDP camps, or urban wards, where authorities demand money for their release.

More than 400 detainees are currently being held in Sittwe, including women and minors.

“The regime should follow the law even when making arrests. Right now, people are detained without charges, and no one knows how long they will be held or under which law. I feel sorry for the detainees, and we demand that the authorities act according to the law,” another Sittwe resident told DMG.

The military regime has also been forcibly conscripting Muslims into the armed forces, with frequent reports of conscripts deserting due to mistreatment inside military camps.

In addition, the regime has deployed naval vessels around Sittwe and frequently targets local fishing boats operating in the area, according to residents.