Photo: Protesters in Indonesia, Jakarta, gather in Sept 2017, to show their support for Rohingya Muslims by holding banners depicting Ashin Wirathu on the cover of the Times magazine with the headline “Face of Buddhist Terror.”
(Credit: Agoes Rudianto/Anadolu Agency)
Nadine Osman
An ultranationalist monk in Myanmar, dubbed the “face of Buddhist terror” by Time magazine for his role in instilling religious hatred against Muslims, was honoured earlier this month with a prestigious national award.
Ashin Wirathu was awarded the Thiri Pyanchi title for his “outstanding work for the good of the Union of Myanmar,” the military announced on January 3.
Wirathu has long been known for his ultra-nationalist and Islamophobic rhetoric, particularly against Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslim minority. He has called for boycotts of Muslim-owned businesses.
Wirathu is accused of inciting hatred against the Rohingya community and laying the groundwork for the 2017 military operation that forced an estimated 740,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh.
“You can be full of kindness and love, but you cannot sleep next to a mad dog,” Wirathu once said, referring to Muslims. “If we are weak,” he said, “our land will become Muslim.” Referring to Muslim dominance in neighbouring nations and the example of the spread of Islam in Indonesia, Wirathu claims that his Muslim opponents labelled him the “Burmese Bin Laden” after the Time article incorrectly reported he described himself in this manner.
He said he “abhorred violence” and “opposes terrorism.” Wirathu has expressed admiration for, and a desire to follow the example of the English Defence League by “protecting the public.”
