Buddhist monk uses racism and rumours to spread hatred in Burma

Description: 

Thousands watch YouTube videos of 45-year-old ?Burmese Bin Laden? who preaches against country?s Muslim minority...His name is Wirathu, he calls himself the "Burmese Bin Laden" and he is a Buddhist monk who is stoking religious hatred across Burma. The saffron-robed 45-year-old regularly shares his hate-filled rants through DVD and social media, in which he warns against Muslims who "target innocent young Burmese girls and rape them", and "indulge in cronyism". To ears untrained in the Burmese language, his sermons seem steady and calm – almost trance-like – with Wirathu rocking back and forth, eyes downcast. Translate his softly spoken words, however, and it becomes clear how his paranoia and fear, muddled with racist stereotypes and unfounded rumours, have helped to incite violence and spread misinformation in a nation still stumbling towards democracy..."

Creator/author: 

Kate Hodal

Source/publisher: 

"The Guardian" (UK)

Date of Publication: 

2013-04-18

Date of entry: 

2013-04-18

Grouping: 

  • Individual Documents

Category: 

Language: 

English

Format: 

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