Sacred but not safe: Documenting airstrikes on religious and ceremonial gatherings

Places of worship are intended to provide sanctuary and peace, even during times of war. But in Myanmar, many of these historic sites are increasingly becoming scenes of devastation.

On 25 and 26 February 2025, airstrikes reportedly hit religious compounds during wedding ceremonies in Magway and Sagaing regions. These incidents form a part of a broader trend, which Myanmar Witness continues to monitor and document: military operations hitting large civilian gatherings, such as weddings, which are often held in or near religious buildings.

For example, in one of the documented incidents, a wedding invitation was uploaded to social media (source redacted due to privacy issues) on 25 February 2025, the same day the airstrike hit a monastery in Son Kone village, Magway Region.

A second strike

The second airstrike, a day later, hit a pagoda in Me Oe village, Sagaing Region. Although no casualties were reported, claims suggested that a wedding was in progress. In both of these cases, Myanmar Witness carried out geolocations and analysed structural damage and military aircraft activity nearby, and tried to confirm whether the weddings were deliberate targets.

Broader trend

The analysis appears to confirm an ongoing pattern. In 2024, Myanmar Witness documented 109 claims of religious sites damaged in airstrikes across 87 incidents.  This included a wedding that was reportedly hit in Mingin, Sagaing Region. These trends highlight that religious and cultural sites are becoming increasingly at risk of complete destruction as a result of internal conflict in the country.

As is the case in many parts of the world, religious sites in Myanmar often act as both sacred spaces and community hubs. They host local events and life celebrations, such as weddings, and under international humanitarian law, these sites should be protected from military operations. Whether these places are being targeted or not, the repeated destruction of sites across the country raises urgent questions on military strategy and civilian protection.

Myanmar Witness will continue to monitor, investigate and archive incidents in a bid to support accountability efforts and provide insight into trends.

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