Mandalay Mosque Under Construction Sealed Off, Section 144 Imposed Barring All Entry

Under-construction mosque in Mandalay sealed off, Section 144 imposed to bar anyone from entering the area

September 17

The military junta government has sealed off an under-construction building and a four-storey RC prayer hall that was being used for worship without permission inside Myit Phayar Mosque in U Poke Thaw ward, Aungmyaythazan Township, Mandalay, and has imposed Section 144 to bar anyone from entering the surrounding area, it is learned.

After a video clip spread on social media in recent days showing a monk arriving at the site of the under-construction mosque and questioning those responsible about construction exceeding the permitted amount, the military junta government sealed it off in this manner.

In the video clip, when a monk questioned the person responsible for the mosque construction, the official was seen saying that Mandalay Mayor U Kyaw San had granted the permission.

"It's not being demolished because it's a mosque, it's not being demolished because it's a religious building; it's because it doesn't comply with the law — buildings constructed without a construction permit and people living without residency permission are being demolished in both Yangon and Mandalay. You donors know this. It's only the authorities. We monks also came to look at this mosque construction site after hearing the news," the monk said during questioning.

U Kyaw San served as the Mandalay mayor under the military junta from February 2021 until April 2026, and after the illegal election was held, U Khin Maung Aye is now serving as the current Mandalay mayor.

MyoTaw News Channel