Myanmar jails seven Muslims for up to 28 years over riots

Myanmar on Tuesday sentenced seven Muslims to prison terms ranging from two to 28 years in connection with religious violence in March that left dozens of people dead, a justice official said.

The defendants, who were spared the death penalty, were accused of the murder of a Buddhist monk in the central town of Meiktila that sparked unrest across the region, mostly targeting Muslims.

The suspects were jailed on charges including murder, incitement to murder, arson and damage to public property, Mandalay region advocate general Ye Aung Myint said by telephone from Meiktila.

Their family members broke down in tears at the court after hearing the verdict, defence lawyer Thein Than Oo said. “Whether they appeal depends on their relatives,” he said.

According to the government, at least 44 people were killed and thousands left homeless after the wave of violence, which was apparently triggered by a quarrel in a gold shop.

Three Muslims including the gold shop owner were jailed for 14 years in April for assaulting a Buddhist customer.

So far no Buddhists have been convicted in connection with the unrest in Meiktila, but Ye Aung Myint insisted that both sides were being treated equally.