Killing Rohingya Teachers Is an Attempt to Erase a People From History"

Date:08- September-2025.

The situation in Burma’s Rakhine State, particularly in Kyauktaw Township, has once again escalated into a dire humanitarian and human rights crisis for the remaining Rohingya population.According to firsthand accounts from Mohammad, a Rohingya survivor of the 2017 genocide who now resides in Ukhiya camp, the Arakan Army (AA) has intensified abductions of Rohingya teachers and educated individuals from villages in Kyauktaw township. 

Ongoing Abductions:

Since the first week of September 2025, reports indicate a systematic campaign of targeting Rohingya educators:

On 01 September 2025, at least 13 educated Rohingya men, including schoolteachers, were taken away by the Arakan Army. Their current whereabouts remain unknown. Families have not received any confirmation of whether they are alive or dead.

On the night of 07 September 2025, seven more Rohingya educators were abducted from the same area. Witnesses report that the armed group deliberately singled out teachers, community leaders, and educated youth.In total, 20 Rohingya teachers and educated persons are now missing in Kyauktaw and (surrounding villages number is Unknown).

Mohammad confirmed that his own brother and uncle are among those taken. Their fate remains uncertain, adding to the grief and fear gripping Rohingya communities.

Pattern of Targeting Rohingya Educators:

The abductions are not isolated to a single village. Multiple Rohingya villages around Kyauktaw township are reporting similar incidents. Testimonies suggest that the Arakan Army is intentionally targeting educated Rohingya, particularly teachers, who play a crucial role in preserving community resilience, education, and identity. By removing these figures, the Rohingya community is left leaderless, vulnerable, and further marginalized.

Communications Blackout:

Due to the lack of reliable internet access in Rakhine State, Burma, families are unable to reach out to human rights organizations, the media, or even neighboring villages for confirmation of events.

This blackout effectively silences victims and prevents timely reporting of abuses. Information is only reaching the outside world through survivors and refugees who fled Myanmar previously and maintain limited contact with family members inside Rakhine.

Humanitarian Impact

The abductions have created a climate of fear and despair among Rohingya families still trapped inside Burma. Many who previously resisted displacement are now being forced to consider fleeing once again, given the absence of safety and protection. For a community that has already endured mass killings, genocide on Rohingya Muslims minority and forced exile, this new wave of targeted violence threatens to erase the few remaining educated voices that uphold Rohingya survival and identity.

Conclusion and Appeal.

The abduction of Rohingya educators in Kyauktaw represents a grave violation of human rights and international law. It highlights the urgent need for:

Taking away, killing Rohingya teachers is not just an attack on individuals, it is an attempt to erase the very existence of a people. When educators are silenced, an entire community, voice ts future, and its identity. This is like erasing the name of a race from the world’s memory.

1. Immediate international investigation into the whereabouts of the abducted individuals.

2. Pressure on the Arakan Army to release the hostages unharmed.

3. Increased protection measures for Rohingya civilians in Rakhine State.

4. Restoration of communications access to ensure affected families can seek help and report abuses.

Reported by Rohingya Political Journalist Saiful Arakani.