10 I. Restrictions on Mosque Construction and Repair Before the Earthquake For decades before the March 2025 earthquake, Myanmar governments and military regimes restricted mosque construction, expansion, and major repair.15 A lawyer interviewed by BHRN said Myanmar has no specific law establishing a uniform process for constructing or rebuilding religious buildings and no clear statutory allocation of authority among municipal, General Administration Department, and Religious Affairs offices.16 A construction professional described different permit arrangements in Yangon, Mandalay, Naypyidaw, and other states and regions. In Yangon, he said junta officials after the 2021 coup did not permit mosque rebuilding and required approved renovations to retain the original design, without extensions or structural additions. Work outside the approved scope could lead to orders to remove newly constructed portions.17 In Yangon, one mosque that received renovation permission added a concrete slab and another floor. The engineer was reported to the Engineering Council and the additional construction was to be demolished. At a mosque in central Yangon, an application to rebuild resulted only in permission for internal renovation, with extensions and additions prohibited and the work subject to three- or sixmonth deadlines.18 Blocked and Delayed Mosque Repairs BHRN documented Muslim communities that spent years seeking permission for necessary repairs while mosques continued to deteriorate. At a mosque in Amarapura Township, repeated applications to repair the approximately century-old building passed between government offices without producing a permit. The community instead made small repairs and continued worshipping there. A mosque representative told BHRN, “We tried repeatedly to obtain permission to repair the mosque. When we ultimately could not get it, we simply added or replaced small things here and there and continued using the mosque for worship as best we could.”19 At a village mosque in Sintgaing Township, the community pursued permission through Religious Affairs, the General Administration Department, Immigration, ward or village-tract offices, township offices, and the district level for years without receiving a formal permit. Residents patched the building as it deteriorated and later carried out work on verbal instructions from local junta officials.20 Communities described trying to fix leaking roofs and toilets, reinforce weakened pillars, and repair deteriorating brickwork.21 Restrictions also affected efforts to address known structural dangers. At a Mandalay mosque, objections had previously halted repairs and the roof later leaked during the rainy season. An engineer 15 Human Rights Watch, “Burma. Two Islamic Schools Shuttered in Rangoon,” 8 May 2017. BHRN Interview 10, Myanmar, 13 May 2025. BHRN Interview 11, Myanmar, 16 May 2025. 16 BHRN Interview 11, Myanmar, 16 May 2025. 17 BHRN Interview 10, Myanmar, 13 May 2025. 18 BHRN Interview 10, Myanmar, 13 May 2025. 19 BHRN Interview 5, Myanmar, 13 April 2025. 20 BHRN Interview 7, Myanmar, 13 April 2025. 21 BHRN Interview 7, Myanmar, 13 April 2025. BHRN Interview 13, Myanmar, 19 June 2025.