Rohingya sentenced for not concluding lectre in time

19-12-2005
Maungdaw, Kaladan News: A Rohingya elite was arrested and sentenced to a 10-month jail term with rigorous works in Arakan State for not concluding a religious lecture within fixed time, said a relative.

The victim is identified as Oli Ahmed, 55, son of Sayedur Rhaman of Ukilpara (Auk Rwa) of Maungdaw Town in Arakan State. He is also a former immigration staff of Maungdaw Township, he further added. On 10th November 2005, the aforementioned Oli Ahmed held a religious lecture by inviting some religious teachers taking permission from the Township Peace and Development Council Chairman (TPDC) of Maungdaw Township, he more said. The Chairman allowed the applicant to hold the religious lecture nearby house till 10:00 pm.

However, the lecture was ended a few minutes lately on that day, said another man of the locality. However, some days later, on 26th November 2005, the police of Maungdaw Town went to the home of Oli Ahmed by the order of the TPDC Chairman of Maungdaw Township and arrested him for not concluding the lecture within the fixed time, the local man more added. Two days later, on 29th November 2005, the victim was produced before the trial court No.1 of Maungdaw Township, which sentenced to him a 10-month jail term with rigorous work for concluding a religious lecture delaying a few minutes as fixed by concerned authority implicating him under police Act No.49, Raki 932/05, said a lawyer from Maungdaw Town.

After the issue, the Azan (call to prayer) was banned with loud speakers from mosques in the Township of Maungdaw. Previously, the Azan was not forbidden by the authorities concerned, said an Imam (the leader of the prayers) from Maungdaw. A relative of Oli Ahmed said, "A man was sentenced to 10- month jailed with rigorous work for only 10 minutes lateness of ending of a religious lecture is a deliberate action against the Rohingya community."

According to a Sarapa, a new military intelligence group after the Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt sack said, "We come to Arakan State to cripple the whole economic bases of the Rohingya people and to drive them into slave labors without leaving any things for their possessions. We are also projecting that the Rohingya youths to be illiterate," said a university student who recently fled his motherland for his security reason.

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