Rohingya Arrested for Wearing Palestinian T-shirts

The Rohingya community in Maungdaw Township is pleading for fairness after two young Rohingya men were arrested for wearing T-shirts with a Palestinian flag sticker.

Amaram, a 21-year-old from Kyauk Ladkha village, and Mawlawi Zubair were taken into custody by the Arakan Army (AA) on January 26. Their alleged crime? Selling T-shirts featuring the Palestinian flag.

Since their arrest, their families have been left in the dark. No one knows where they are being held, and their loved ones have not been allowed to see them.

Roshid, a concerned local, tried to find answers. “I went to Pyin Phyu camp to ask about them, but the guards just said they didn’t know anything.”

For their families, the uncertainty is agonizing. “We just want to know if they’re safe,” one relative shared.

Many in the community say they didn’t even realize the T-shirts had political significance. A textile shop owner in Maungdaw explained: “Flag T-shirts have always been popular. A while ago, people were wearing American and British flag shirts. Now, with protests for Palestine happening around the world, cheap Palestinian flag shirts are being sold in local markets.”

Another shopkeeper added: “Most young people here don’t even recognize the flags. They just buy what looks good. That’s why vendors stock more flag designs. Meanwhile, Rakhine youth prefer skull-patterned shirts.”

Observers believe the Arakan Army should handle such cases with more understanding and work to build trust with the Rohingya community.

For now, Amaram and Mawlawi Zubair’s families can only wait—desperate for news, hoping their sons will come home soon.

Rohingya Vision News