Ashin Wirathu is 58 years old as of October 2026. He was born on 10 July 1968.
Quick facts
Date of birth10 July 1968
Age58
NationalityBurmese
BirthplaceKyaukse, Myanmar
Editor's Take:
Ashin Wirathu shows how religious language can be turned into a tool of hate. His sermons and social media posts spread fear of Muslims in Myanmar, and he defended laws restricting interfaith marriage. Human rights investigators link such campaigns to the climate that led to violence against the Rohingya. Most Buddhist leaders reject his views. He remains a deeply divisive figure. His career warns how fast online hate can spread in a fragile country.
Key Milestones
2003: Jailed for inciting violence
2012: Freed in an amnesty
2013: Appears on the cover of Time
2021: Released after the military coup
Wirathu (born Win Khaing Oo; 10 July 1968) is a Burmese Buddhist monk and militant who is the leader of the 969 Movement in Myanmar. Dubbed the "face of Buddhist terror", he has incited the persecution of Muslims in Myanmar, especially the Rohingya minority, through his speeches.
