16 Bangladesh, Burma and the Rohingya crisis Religious Freedom 30. We received evidence that religious freedom was under serious threat. Benedict Rogers from Christian Solidarity Worldwide has written: I have made over fifty visits to Myanmar and its borders over the past eighteen years, but I have not known a level of religious intolerance and hatred as severe as the situation over the past six years.37 A recent report from Quilliam highlights: Legislation to restrict inter-religious marriage and religious conversions has been introduced as part of the “Protection of Race and Religion” laws. Myanmar’s equivalent of a blasphemy law, Section 295 of the Penal Code, has been used several times in recent years.38 The report highlights abuses of Christians as well as Muslims. Nationalists, supported by the state have set up “Muslim- free zones” across the country. These are signposted villages, denying Muslims access. Christians, particularly in Kachin State, are being targeted for abuse and intimidation. The counter-extremism organisation Quilliam report states that “Freedom of religion or belief, a basic human right set out in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is increasingly violated in Myanmar.”39 The United States’ State Department has categorised Myanmar as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ for religious freedom every year since 1999.40 Parliamentary democracy 31. We received evidence of Aung San Suu Kyi’s increasingly authoritarian leadership style, centralising power and suppressing independent voices within the NLD. Academic, Dr Dasandi told us that democracy seemed to be shrinking under her: Since 2015 when the NLD came to power, what we have seen is far more centralisation of power under Aung San Suu Kyi. There are lots of reports of parliamentarians in the NLD party effectively having proposals to table motions being rejected. We have been told that backbenchers for the NLD have been told not to ask tough questions.41 A report in the Economist observed that: the parliament under the NLD government was less active, and less responsive to public opinion than under the USDP; the previous parliament turned out twice as many laws per session; asked substantially more questions of the government; and passed almost four times as many motions aimed at the executive.42 Other media reporting claims that NLD legislators have been muzzled by their party leaders, one has left the party and others plan not to stand in the next election.43 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 The Rise of Religious Nationalism, Intolerance and Persecution in Burma, Quilliam The Rise of Religious Nationalism, Intolerance and Persecution in Burma, Quilliam The Rise of Religious Nationalism, Intolerance and Persecution in Burma, Quilliam The Rise of Religious Nationalism, Intolerance and Persecution in Burma, Quilliam Q197–198 ‘Democracy has muzzled Myanmar’s parliament’, Economist, June 2017 ‘How Myanmar’s ruling party keeps its lawmakers under control’, Tea Circle Oxford, March 2018