Rohingya genocide

Quick Facts: Who was Rohingya genocide?

Subject:

Rohingya genocide

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Ongoing persecution and killings of the Muslim Rohingya people by Myanmar's armed forces.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Rohingya genocide is a series of ongoing persecutions and killings of the Muslim Rohingya people by the Tatmadaw (armed forces of Myanmar). The genocide has consisted of two phases to date: the first was a military crackdown that occurred from October 2016 to January 2017, and the second has been occurring since August 2017. From 2024 onward, the Arakan Army has also been accused of participating in abuses against Rohingya Muslims, particularly in areas under its control. The crisis forced over a million Rohingya to flee to other countries. Most fled to Bangladesh, resulting in the creation of the world's largest refugee camp, while others escaped to India, Thailand, Malaysia, and other parts of South and Southeast Asia, where they continue to face persecution.

Career & Major Achievements

Several countries consider these events ethnic cleansing. The persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar dates back to at least the 1970s. Since then, the Rohingya people have been persecuted on a regular basis by the government and Buddhist nationalists. In late 2016, Myanmar's armed forces and police launched a major crackdown against the people in Rakhine State in Myanmar's northwestern region. The Burmese military was accused of committing ethnic cleansing and genocide by various United Nations agencies, International Criminal Court officials, human rights groups, journalists, and governments.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The UN found evidence of wide-scale human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings; summary executions; gang rapes; arson of Rohingya villages, businesses, and schools; and infanticides. At least 6,700 Rohingya were killed in the first month of attacks, between 25 August and 24 September 2017. The Burmese government dismissed these findings as "exaggerations". Using statistical extrapolations which were based on surveys which were conducted with a total of 3,321 Rohingya refugee households in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, a study which was conducted in January 2018 estimated that the military and the local Rakhine population killed at least 25,000 Rohingya people and perpetrated gang rapes and other forms of sexual violence against 18,000 Rohingya women and girls. They estimated that 116,000 Rohingya were beaten, and 36,000 were thrown into fires.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 2016: 2016 Milestone — The genocide has consisted of two phases to date: the first was a military crackdown that occurred from October 2016 to January 2017, and the second has been occurring since August 2017.
2. 2017: 2017 Milestone — At least 6,700 Rohingya were killed in the first month of attacks, between 25 August and 24 September 2017.
3. 2018: 2018 Milestone — Using statistical extrapolations which were based on surveys which were conducted with a total of 3,321 Rohingya refugee households in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, a study which was conducted in January 2018 estimated that the military and the local Rakhine population killed at least 25,000 Rohingya people and perpetrated gang rapes and other forms of sexual violence against 18,000 Rohingya women and girls.
4. 2024: 2024 Milestone — From 2024 onward, the Arakan Army has also been accused of participating in abuses against Rohingya Muslims, particularly in areas under its control.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Rohingya genocide

True or False: “The initial legal discrimination against the Rohingya was formalized only after 1982 when the Burmese nationality law was enacted.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The persecution and marginalization of the Rohingya predate the passage of the 1982 Nationality Law, which merely formalized existing legal discrimination.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Aaron Klug — Historical peer (Died in 2018) (2018): Pioneering biophysicist known for crystallographic electron microscopy and nucleic acid structure.
• Alan Bean — Historical peer (Died in 2018) (2018): American astronaut, naval officer, and lunar explorer who walked on the Moon.

Frequently Asked Questions about Rohingya genocide