Rohingya Islami Mahaz
| Rohingya Islami Mahaz | |
|---|---|
| روہنگیا اسلامی محاذ | |
Flag used by Rohingya Islami Mahaz | |
| Leaders | Mowlana Abdul Hamid [1] |
| Dates of operation | 2020– present[2] |
| Headquarters | Rohingya refugee camps[3][4] |
| Active regions | Bangladesh–Myanmar border Northern Rakhine State |
| Ideology | Islamism[5] Separatism |
| Size | 1000 (2025)[6] |
| Allies | Rohingya Solidarity Organisation Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (since 2025)[7][8] Arakan Rohingya Army |
| Opponents | State opponents: Myanmar Non-state opponents: Arakan Army |
| Battles and wars | Rohingya conflict |
| Logo | |
The Rohingya Islami Mahaz, (Rohingya Arabic script: روہنگیا اسلامی محاذ) (lit. 'Rohingya Islamic Front'), commonly known as 'Islami Mahaz' is a Rohingya Islamist insurgent group which is allied with the Rohingya Solidarity Organization[5][9][10]
Foundation
The organization was founded in Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh. It owns several madrasa in Bangladesh. The organization is reportedly led by Maulvi Selim Ullah.[11]
Insurgent activities
In the middle of 2020, a video was posted on YouTube where it was seen that the Rohingya Islami Mahaz perpetrated a bombing, targeting the Myanmar military. It was responsible for killing of alleged ARSA supporters in Bangladesh refugee camps.[9] Islami Mahaz uploaded a video where they fired rockets on Myanmar.
In March 2025, a member of the organisation agreed to give interview in The Independent. He claimed that Islami Mahaz still operates with over 1000 fighters.[12]
Conflict with ARSA
A madrasa owned by Islami Mahaz was attacked and many students were killed. Islami Mahaz blamed ARSA for the attack.[11] The group was reportedly allied with RSO against ARSA.
In February 2025, all three groups along with the ARA came together and formed the Four Brothers Alliance,[7][8] ending the conflict between them.
References
- ^ Rohingya Refugees: Resistance, Repatriation and Rising Violence Krishna Kumar Saha. Oxford House Research. April 26, 2023
- ^ Protect Rohingya From Armed Gangs: HRW. The Irrawaddy. Muktadir Rashid. July 13, 2023
- ^ "SOUTH ASIA INTELLIGENCE REVIEW-Volume-21-No-51-Monday, June 12, 2023". satp.org. Retrieved 2025-11-30.
- ^ "Breaking Away: The Battle for Myanmar's Rakhine State" (PDF). International Crisis Group.
- ^ a b Competing armed groups pose new threat to Rohingya in Bangladesh December 11, 2023 International Institute for Strategic Studies
- ^ "The Rohingya were driven from Myanmar. Now they're taking up arms to fight back". The Independent. 2025-03-27. Retrieved 2025-03-28.
- ^ a b Bhattacharyya, Rajeev (27 January 2025). "How Pakistan's ISI is helping Rohingya armed groups to forge a united front in Bangladesh". Firstpost. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
- ^ a b Rahman, Shafiur (16 February 2025). "Dil Mohammed: The smuggler shaping a war in Arakan". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
- ^ a b "Bangladesh: Spiraling Violence Against Rohingya Refugees | Human Rights Watch". 2023-07-13. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
- ^ Bangladesh investigators probe cause of fire that left 12,000 Rohingya homeless March 7, 2023. Radio Free Asia.
- ^ a b "Security Risks Rise in Rohingya Refugee Camps on the Myanmar-Bangladeshi Border". jamestown.org. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
- ^ "The Rohingya were driven from Myanmar. Now they're taking up arms to fight back". The Independent. 2025-03-27. Retrieved 2025-03-28.
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