In the time of the Myanmar monarchy they gained some influence economically and politically. During the British colonial time the influx of Muslims from neighboring India increased dramatically. Usually women are not veiled, but depending on their ethnic origin some wear a scarf or a kind of embroidered cap. Downtown Yangoon, Mandalay and Mawlamyine you can see several large old mosques, most of them still dating from British occupation.

In 1948, Burma gained independence and the tensions between Muslims and the Buddhist majority increased. After the military coup in 1962, Muslims were discriminated against, or even openly persecuted. In practice a citizenship law denied the Rohingyas ...