Buddhist fundamentalism driving gender crackdown in Myanmar

Buddhist fundamentalism has become a powerful tool of repression in post‑coup Myanmar, according to a new report by the Asia Centre. The Bangkok‑based think tank says the military regime has deepened its alliance with nationalist religious networks, using them to justify legal persecution, online harassment and physical violence against women’s rights and LGBTQ activists.

The study, Religious Fundamentalism in Myanmar: Post‑Coup Repression of Gender Rights, released on 3 June, argues that the 2021 coup cemented ties between the junta and Buddhist nationalist actors. Together, they have increasingly portrayed advocacy for women, gender and sexual minorities as a threat to Buddhist morality and national culture.

Nationalist networks resurgent

Groups such as the 969 Movement and Ma Ba Tha, which rose to prominence during Myanmar’s political opening in the 2010s, remain influential despite official bans. The report says many of their figures continued spreading fundamentalist messaging online and re‑emerged after the coup, linking Buddhism with nationalism and social conservatism.

Repression on multiple fronts

The Asia Centre identifies three main forms of repression. First, the junta has weaponised laws to criminalise activism. LGBTQ campaigner Justin Min Hein was jailed for ten years in 2023 under counter‑terrorism legislation, while prominent activist Sue Sha Shin Thant received a 22‑year sentence in 2022. Authorities also continue to use Section 377, a colonial‑era law criminalising same‑sex relations, as a tool of intimidation.

Second, digital spaces have become battlegrounds. Pro‑military and fundamentalist actors use social media to spread hate speech, doxxing campaigns and incitement to violence, while the regime expands AI‑enabled surveillance.

Third, physical violence remains widespread. Activists face arbitrary arrests, intimidation, assault and sexualised abuse, often framed as defending religion and morality.

Cultural censorship and shrinking support

The report also highlights legal action against the film Don’t Expect Anything, accused in 2023 of insulting Buddhism for challenging traditional gender roles. Meanwhile, international funding for democracy and rights‑based work has declined, leaving grassroots organisations under‑resourced.

Despite this, networks of women and gender rights defenders continue to operate through encrypted communications, emergency relocation and cross‑border support.

Call for international action

Asia Centre concludes that religious fundamentalism, military authoritarianism and gender‑based repression are now tightly intertwined in Myanmar. It urges UN agencies, civil society groups and international donors to strengthen protection mechanisms and challenge narratives that legitimise discrimination and violence.

-2026-06-04