On 1 February 2021, Myanmars military (known as the Tatmadaw) seized control of the government in a coup. This abruptly ended Myanmar’s fragile political reform, reversing a decade-long transition towards civilian governance. 

Since then, the situation for ethnic and religious minorities has worsened significantly, with the military conducting brutal campaigns of airstrikes and ground offensives targeting ethnic minority regions, particularly Chin, Kachin, Karen, Karenni and Rakhine states. 

Christian minorities are facing increasing persecution as the military regime weaponizes sham elections, and mandatory conscription law. The junta ordered churches to hold early Christmas celebrations in Kachin State to avoid conflict with the December election. Also before Christmas, a 23-year-old Chin Christian pastor, Pau Mua Lian, was unlawfully arrested and conscripted, despite religious clergy being legally exempt. These are just two examples of emblematic violations against ethnic and religious minorities across the country. 

When it is not destroying places of worship and other civilian infrastructure, the military is often violating the right to freedom of religion or belief by forcibly closing churches, mosques, pagodas, religious cemeteries and temples – in some cases repurposing said sites as bases in further violation of international humanitarian law. 

Facts and stats:

Over 7,500 people estimated to have been killed since the coup. 

Source: Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), December 2025.