Rohingya

The Rohingya are an ethnic and religious minority from Myanmar, primarily Muslims who have lived for generations in Rakhine State. They trace a long-standing presence in the region, though the Myanmar government has often disputed their status as citizens. Under the 1982 nationality law, many Rohingya have been denied citizenship, rendering large portions stateless and subject to restrictions on movement, access to education and health care, marriage, and political rights.

Most Rohingya live in Rakhine State, including internally displaced persons who have fled violence since 2012. In 2017, a security operation in response to attacks by insurgent groups led to widespread killings and arson, triggering a mass exodus to Bangladesh and other countries. The resulting refugee crisis has left hundreds of thousands of Rohingya in camps in Cox’s Bazar and elsewhere, while many more remain in Myanmar under varying levels of protection and restriction.

The international response has focused on human rights concerns, accountability for abuses, and the protection of civilians. Investigations by human rights organizations and some international bodies have described acts that amount to ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity in certain periods. Repatriation efforts have faced significant obstacles, including safety guarantees, citizenship rights, and long-term integration.

Linguistically, Rohingya people speak the Rohingya language, closely related to Chittagonian, and many speak Bengali; Islam is the predominant faith. The status of the Rohingya remains a central humanitarian and political issue in Myanmar and the broader region.