Rohingya Islami Mahaz Explained

Rohingya Islami Mahaz
Native Name:	روہنگیا اسلامی محاذ
Native Name Lang:	Rohingya Arabic Script
Active:	– present^[1]
Leaders:	Maulvi Selim Ullah^[2]
Ideology:	Islamism^[3]
Area:	Northern Rakhine State Bangladesh–Myanmar border
Allies:	Rohingya Solidarity Organisation
Opponents:	State opponents: Myanmar Tatmadaw Western Command Myanmar Police Force Border Guard Police Non-state opponents: Arakan Army Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army
Battles:	Rohingya conflict Northern Rakhine State clashes Myanmar civil war (2021-present)

The Rohingya Islami Mahaz, (Rohingya arabic script: روہنگیا اسلامی محاذ)), commonly known as 'Islami Mahaz'. is a Rohingya Islamist insurgent group which is Allied with the Rohingya Solidarity Organization^{[3] [4]}

Foundation

The organisation was founded in Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh. It owns several Madrasa in Bangladesh. The organisation is reportedly lead by Maulvi Selim ullah.^[5]

Insurgent activities

In middle of 2020, a video was posted on YouTube where it was seen that Rohingya Islami Mahaz bombing, targeting the Myanmar military. It was responsible for killing of alleged ARSA supporters in Bangladesh refugee camps.^[6] Islami Mahaz uploaded a video where they fired rockets on Myanmar.

Conflict with ARSA

A madrasa owned by Islami Mahaz was massacred and many students were killed. Islami Mahaz blamed ARSA for the attack.^[5] The group is reportedly allied with RSO against ARSA.

Notes and References

1. https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/asia/protect-rohingya-from-armed-gangs-hrw.html Protect Rohingya From Armed Gangs: HRW
2. https://www.oxfordhouseresearch.com/rohingya-refugees-resistance-repatriation-and-rising-violence/ Rohingya Refugees: Resistance, Repatriation and Rising Violence
3. https://myanmar.iiss.org/analysis/rohingya Competing armed groups pose new threat to Rohingya in Bangladesh
4. https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/bangladeshrohingyafire-03072023082529.html Bangladesh investigators probe cause of fire that left 12,000 Rohingya homeless
5. Web site: Security Risks Rise in Rohingya Refugee Camps on the Myanmar-Bangladeshi Border . 2024-11-15 . jamestown.org . en-US.
6. Web site: 2023-07-13 . Bangladesh: Spiraling Violence Against Rohingya Refugees Human Rights Watch . 2024-11-14 . en.