Writer, human-rights activist and Islamic scholar (Alim) from Sittwe. Under the pen name Aung Aung (Sittwe) he wrote books and essays exposing the persecution of the Rohingya, became the first Rohingya to translate the Holy Quran into Burmese, and was one of the most-followed Rohingya voices online. He died of COVID-19 in Yangon in 2021.
The writer who sacrificed his life for justice
In accordance with his belief that the interests of his people are his own interests, and the interests of his country are his own, Aung Aung (Sittwe) devoted his entire life to opposing injustice and making sacrifices in the pursuit of justice. Most people know him primarily as a writer and a human rights activist.
His achievements and contributions go far beyond these titles. These are merely the aspects of his life that he has allowed the public to know. There are many other remarkable qualities and accomplishments hidden behind the scenes. One of the most distinctive is that he is also a highly knowledgeable Islamic scholar (Alim). He consistently devoted himself to humanitarian work, considering his efforts to serve humanity not merely as acts of goodwill, but as his personal duty and responsibility.
Aung Aung (Sittwe) was born in 1967 at his family home on Chin Pyan Street, Kontan Ward, Sittwe, Arakan State. His father was Maulana Jalaluddin, a teacher at Noemania School. His birth name was Qasim, also known as Maung Kyaw Thein.
Maung Kyaw Thein received his basic education in Sittwe. From an early age, he was known for his intelligence and deep love for religion. Therefore, while pursuing his secular education, he also studied and acquired religious knowledge simultaneously. He pursued his higher education at the University of Yangon, where he majored in History and obtained a Master of Arts degree (MA in History). He also earned the Alim Fazil degree in Islamic studies.
Driven by his strong sense of nationalism and love for his country, Maung Kyaw Thein became involved in national movements from his student days. He wrote numerous books, articles, and critical essays under the pen name Aung Aung (Sittwe), focusing on the liberation and rights of the Rohingya people. The book We Need Your Help to End the Rohingya Genocide was among the works he wrote and compiled before his death. - Irrefutable Rohingya Denial: It Is a Way to Genocide - Myanmar's Most Senior Indigenous Race, Rohingya, Is Also the World's Most Persecuted - Myanmar's Crimes Against Humanity
Through these publications, he exposed the persecution and suffering endured by the Rohingya people to the international community and sought justice for them.
He did not stand up for the Rohingya people alone. Since 2012, he had also been firmly advocating for justice through every possible means for ethnic communities such as the Karen, Kachin, and Shan, who have faced discrimination, oppression, and the denial of their rights within Myanmar, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or religion.
Furthermore, he also devoted himself to the promotion and development of Islam. One of his most invaluable contributions was translating the Holy Quran into clear, simple, and easily understandable modern Burmese prose. He was also the first Rohingya to translate the Holy Quran into the Burmese language. His dedication and generosity seemed to know no bounds. He made his Burmese translation of the Holy Quran available as a mobile application on the Google Play Store, allowing anyone to download, read, and study it free of charge. He also compiled and published other religious books and literature, striving to guide those who had lost their way towards the right path.
He was also highly active in advocating for the Rohingya cause through popular internet and social media platforms. He could be considered one of the most active Rohingya activists in the online world. He established his own website and blog under the name Aung Aung Sittwe, where he published numerous articles on national issues, the struggle for rights, and standing in solidarity with oppressed communities. He also contributed extensively to international websites. On social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, he regularly published articles and shared reliable news and information from inside Myanmar, earning the trust and confidence of his followers. He was even regarded as the Rohingya with the largest number of followers on Twitter.
He also regularly assisted international scholars, media organizations, and researchers with their projects related to the Rohingya issue. Through these contributions, he earned the trust and respect of many international academics and researchers. Numerous books and publications on the Rohingya written by foreign authors also contain references to the work and research of Aung Aung (Sittwe).
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he strongly criticized the Myanmar government on social media, accusing it of neglecting its responsibility to protect and care for the public and failing to provide sufficient oxygen cylinders. He highlighted how people were dying in large numbers along roadsides and in public places due to the lack of essential medical assistance. He also accused the government of using the pandemic as a weapon against its own people.
The pandemic also affected Aung Aung (Sittwe) and his family. On July 5–6, he and all members of his family contracted COVID-19.
Aung Aung's condition became critical on the evening of July 13, when he had to rely on an oxygen supply to breathe. Without access to adequate medical treatment, his health continued to deteriorate day by day, and he never recovered. On July 18, 2021, at 4:40 a.m., the writer passed away at his home on 144th Street, Tamwe Township, Yangon Region, at the age of 54, answering the call of Allah. He left this world without being able to completely free the oppressed Rohingya people from the cycle of persecution and suffering. With his passing, the Rohingya community lost a courageous and dedicated warrior for justice and truth. His final wish was to have his books sold and to use whatever money was raised from their sales to support orphaned children in his hometown of Sittwe. Before his death, he entrusted this final wish to one of his closest friends.
— Luthu Wunna, 3 April 2023
