Amid the recent arrest of Ataullah Abu Ammar Jununi, the notorious leader of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), members of the armed group are reportedly forcing Rohingya women in refugee camps to hold prayers for his release.
This coercion has sparked fear and outrage among camp residents, many of whom have long suffered under ARSA’s reign of terror.
According to multiple sources inside the camps, ARSA operatives have been going door to door, instructing women to participate in group prayers and supplications for their leader’s freedom.
“They said we must pray for his release because he is our savior,” a Rohingya woman, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, told local reporters.
“But how can we pray for someone who has brought us nothing but suffering?”
Social Media Campaign to Whitewash Crimes Following Ataullah’s arrest, ARSA supporters launched a widespread online campaign attempting to portray him as an innocent leader wrongfully detained. Despite overwhelming evidence of his involvement in numerous killings, extortion, and criminal activities, his followers continue to claim that he is merely a “freedom fighter” for the Rohingya cause.
Several ARSA-affiliated social media accounts have been actively sharing posts denying any wrongdoing by Ataullah. These posts attempt to paint him as a victim of international conspiracy, despite his long history of leading violent operations both in Myanmar’s Rakhine State and within Bangladesh’s refugee camps.
“ARSA is trying to manipulate the narrative by using social media,” said a Rohingya journalist, who has been tracking the group’s online activities.
“They are spreading misinformation to gain sympathy, but the people know the truth. They have seen ARSA’s brutality firsthand.”
Ataullah Abu Ammar Jununi, originally born in Pakistan and raised in Saudi Arabia, became the self-proclaimed leader of ARSA and led the group’s armed insurgency in Myanmar. Under his command, ARSA was responsible for attacks on Myanmar security forces in 2016 and 2017, which triggered brutal military crackdowns against the Rohingya community, resulting in the mass displacement of over 700,000 people to Bangladesh.
Since then, ARSA has expanded its operations in Bangladesh’s refugee camps, engaging in extortion, abductions, and assassinations of Rohingya activists, religious leaders, and anyone opposing their influence. Local reports indicate that the group has killed hundreds, including community leaders advocating for peaceful solutions and justice.
The Bangladesh authorities have linked Ataullah and his group to a series of violent crimes, including the assassinations of prominent Rohingya figures such as Mohib Ullah, a respected rights activist. His death in 2021 was a major blow to the Rohingya community’s peaceful resistance efforts, and many blamed ARSA for silencing his voice.
Refugees Speak Out Against ARSA’s Tyranny For many Rohingya refugees, the news of Ataullah’s arrest brought a glimmer of hope. However, ARSA’s attempts to force women into prayers for his release have renewed fears that the armed group still holds significant power inside the camps.
“We want peace. We don’t want ARSA in our lives,” said a Rohingya elder from one of the camps.
“They have killed our leaders, destroyed our unity, and made our situation worse. Now they are forcing us to pray for their leader’s freedom? It is a disgrace.”
Human rights organizations and camp-based activists have long warned about ARSA’s oppressive tactics and violent activities. The latest reports of forced prayers are seen as another example of the group’s coercive control over the vulnerable Rohingya population.
While Bangladesh authorities have intensified their crackdown on criminal activities inside the refugee camps, ARSA continues to operate through underground networks. Many refugees are calling for stricter security measures and international intervention to dismantle the group entirely.
Meanwhile, as Ataullah’s supporters attempt to rewrite history on social media, the Rohingya people remain steadfast in their demand for justice.
“We want an end to ARSA’s brutality,” said a young Rohingya activist.
“Ataullah’s arrest is just the beginning. His entire network must be dismantled if we are to find true peace.”
For now, the situation remains tense in the refugee camps, with ARSA’s followers still active despite their leader’s imprisonment. However, many Rohingya believe that his arrest marks a turning point in their struggle to free themselves from ARSA’s grip.
