Interview: The Stateless Rohingya

The growing persecution of the Rohingya minority in Myanmar.

By Vanessa Thevathasan
October 24, 2014

The Rohingya are one of the world’s most persecuted ethnic minorities and are internationally recognized as de jure stateless. As Myanmar struggles to form a democratic state during a period of transition after decades of totalitarian military rule, the Rohingya are receiving renewed attention. Vanessa Thevathasan recently spoke with members of The Stateless Rohingya about the plight of the Rohingya and regional responsibility for their human rights.

A short interview with STP

A short interview with Society for Threatened Peoples (STP)

Mohammed Rafique spent 17 years in Bangladeshi refugee camps. Nowadays he is a Project Coordinator of Schools Across Borders and a Council Member of  The European Rohingya Council (ERC). Ilaria Cimino spoke with him about his life and his important work on behalf of the Rohingya. 

- Where are you from?

I am from Burma/Myanmar. I was born in 1982 in Keramoitta Fara,  Akyab (Sittwe) Arakan State.

- When did you leave your homeland?

It was 1992 and I was ten years old. I left with my parents for Bangladesh.