An 11-year-old Muslim boy is facing three criminal charges for allegedly cursing at a group of women in a town in Ayeyarwady Region. Maung Zwe Maung Kant is charged on 4 April under the section 294, 354 and 506 of the criminal procedure code for using abusive language and for obscene behaviour towards a group of seven women. “My son was waiting for me near the mosque, when the seven women came and cursed at him, like what you are doing you son of a bitch, he then cursed at them and ran into the nearby Islamic school,” said Maung Zwe Maung Khat’s father Maluvi Chit Htwe. The women led by Ma Aye Aye lodged complaint against the child at the village administration and at the Einme Township Police Station. They were accompanied by supporters of a pro Buddhist group Ma Ba Tha when they went to the police station to file the complaint. A local resident said the even though the police thought the child was responding to an insult, but it had to open a case against Maung Zwe Maung Khant at the pressure from Ma Ba Tha members. Maluvi Chit Htwe said he could not settle the matter amicably although he met and explain the women about what has happened. “My son is not a student of the Islamic school he ran into after cursing at the women, even though I tried to explain they went to police station to complain”. Thaphan Seik village, where the incident took place has only 15 Muslim households. There is one mosque in the village existed from many years and also an Islamic school which can accommodate about 15 students. U Myo Lwin trustee of the mosque said there is tension running high in the village after a protest by a group of 200 Buddhists recently against the authorities for giving permission to refurbish the Islamic school. The permission was applied last year and the township land registration department gave permission earlier this year. Maung Zwe Man Khant case is registered with Einme police station and the police is working to file the complaint against him in the court. His case registration number is (Pa) 37/2017. Reference : BHRN