YANGON, July 20 (AFP): Myanmar's latest religious clashes began after a Buddhist woman was paid to make false rape claims against two Muslim brothers, state media reported Sunday.
Two men-a Buddhist and a Muslim-died in riots in the country's second city Mandalay that flared on July 1 following social media reports that the Muslim men had raped a Buddhist employee at their tea shop.
More than 20 others were wounded as violence rocked the city for several days, the latest in a series of religious clashes that have bedevilled the former junta-run nation for two years.
But a police investigation found the woman was paid to fabricate the accusation against the men, the New Light of Myanmar reported.
The report, citing the Ministry of Home Affairs, said a medical examination of the woman-named as Phyu Phyu Min-found "no sign of rape or other violence".
"After a detailed investigation she confessed that she accused the two men because she was paid" to do so by two other people who apparently had a personal dispute with the tea shop owners.
The woman has been arrested alongside one of the people alleged to have paid her, the report said.
False rape claim behind latest religious clashes in Myanmar
FE Team | Published: July 21, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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