Dehumanization In The Rohingya

The Muslim Rohingya minority have lived alongside the predominately Buddhist majority in Burma since the 11th century (“Persecution of,” n.d.). According to Wikipedia, Burmese King Bayinnaung banned prominent Muslim holidays such as Eid al-Adha and Eid al- Fitr (“Persecution of,” n.d.). Shortly after, Burmese king Bodawpaya slaughtered four of the country’s most influential religious leaders for refusing to eat pork (“Persecution of,” n.d.). Recently, in June 2012, the brutality escalated and 166 Muslim Rohingya were killed due to sectarian violence between the two groups (“Persecution of,” n.d.). The Rohingya have constantly been subject to ethnic cleansing, marginalization, and dehumanization throughout their country’s history, all which …show more content…
Ma Nu, a Rohingya residing in the state of Rakhine, witnessed as the barbarity transpired (Otis, 2013). Molotov cocktails were set on fire by a group of Buddhist and thrown into the village completely demolishing around 800 homes, along with 3 villagers getting their throats slit (Otis, 2013). During the raid, the Rohingya lost their fishing equipment, clothes and I.D cards (Otis, 2013). As part of the government’s agenda, ethnic cleansing has taken place. The Burmese government is attempting to halt the reproduction of the Rohingya, using measures such as mass incinerations of villages. According to Morse, Buddhist monks are burning Muslim neighborhoods, mosques, and community centers (Morse, 2013). The government claims, these atrocities are meant to stop “rapid population growth” of Rohingya to subdue further violence (Morse, 2013). There are reports of Muslim Rohingya being burned alive in the streets (Morse, 2013). Many displaced Muslim Rohingya are forced to reside in internment camps (Kurlantzick, 2015). These camps are “beginning to look more like permanent concentration camps, complete with barracks-style housing and barbed-wire fencing. Residents can’t leave.” (Kurlantzick, 2015). The Nazi like regime and blunt savagery dehumanizes and breaks down these individuals, when faced with such dire …show more content…
According to Beenish Ahmed, over 3,000 Rohingya are forced to migrate from their homeland to countries like Bangladesh and Malaysia (Ahmed, 2015). Those who migrate, more than likely do not make it to their final destination. Those who do make the painstaking long journey to their intended country, are usually turned away (Ahmed, 2015). Rohingya who travel by sea, are often left stranded by their boat captain (Ahmed, 2015). Ahmed reports, Mahammed Hashim, a 25-year old Rohingya refugee, says “We were living in a country that is more dangerous than the sea” (Ahmed, 2015). To the Rohingya minority group, the violence and downright ambiance has escalated enough for them to see a deadly migration at sea, as a better option than being