"Everything seems peaceful in Moulmein, the Mon state capital on the southern coast of Burma, in spite of the profusion of ?969” logos plastered around the city. In a gold shop in the central market, the sticker ? a religious symbol that represents the three jewels of Buddhism — figures prominently above a small shrine devoted to Buddha. ?It is to remind people that this is a Buddhist shop, so Buddhists can buy here, but Muslim customers are also welcome,” explains the shopkeeper. The now infamous symbol is also being used to promote an extreme form of religious nationalism in Burma and has been linked to a recent surge in anti-Muslim violence, which claimed over 40 lives and devastated thousands of homes across the country in March. Its most vocal advocate and the self-proclaimed ?Burmese bin Laden” ? monk Ashin Wirathu ? has made international headlines for his role in fuelling Islamophobic propaganda under the guise of the ?969” campaign..."