Rohingya Detainees Report Torture and Inhumane Treatment in AA Detention Facilities

Arakan Now | 23 December 2025

Arakan Now has gathered testimonies through confidential interviews with individuals who were detained for extended periods in Arakan Army (AA) detention facilities. The accounts describe systematic torture and inhumane treatment against Rohingya detainees, including practices that reportedly led to deaths.

Severe Physical Torture

Detainees told Arakan Now they were brutally beaten and tortured, in some cases sustaining life-threatening injuries. According to multiple testimonies, some detainees did not survive the abuse.

Complete Denial of Family Contact

Former detainees said no family visits were allowed throughout their detention. Families were also prohibited from sending food, clothing, or any other support to detainees.

Insufficient and Contaminated Food

Interviewees reported being given only one meal per day, often consisting of unhygienic or contaminated food. In several cases, Rohingya detainees were forced to eat food they could not normally consume, worsening their physical condition.

Lack of Clothing and Restricted Hygiene

Detainees were allowed to keep only one set of clothing. During bathing, they were required to remove and wash that same set and then put it back on afterward. Access to bathing was limited, with long gaps—sometimes many days—between opportunities to wash.

Denial of Medical Treatment

According to testimonies, detainees who fell ill were denied medical care. Those who died from illness were reportedly buried hastily in nearby forest areas, without proper procedures or dignity.

Exposure to Cold and Severe Malnutrition

During the winter season, detainees were not provided with blankets or warm clothing, forcing them to endure extreme cold. Combined with insufficient food, this led to severe malnutrition among many detainees.

Ban on Religious Practices

All religious practices were reportedly prohibited. Detainees who were found praying or observing Islamic practices were subjected to harsh punishment and severe abuse.

Extreme and Alcohol-Fueled Abuse

Some detainees said guards carried out torture while intoxicated. Rohingya detainees were allegedly forced to lie face-down while guards burned their backs with mosquito-repellent coils and subjected them to other forms of extreme violence. Deaths reportedly occurred as a result of both torture and untreated illness.

Sources also stated that detainees who died were not given proper Islamic burials. Instead, their bodies were buried without religious rites or respect.

Arakan Now continues to document testimonies from survivors and seeks further information regarding conditions inside AA detention facilities.