Rohingya Refugees Continue to Face Discrimination and Violence Amid Ongoing Crisis

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Since late August, violence in Myanmar's Rakhine State has driven over 500,000 Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh, where they now reside in the world's largest refugee camp, Kutupalong. According to a report from Neue Zürcher Zeitung, the Rohingya community, a Muslim minority, has faced long-standing discrimination and violence, being referred to disparagingly as "Bengali" and viewed as outsiders.

In recent years, the situation has escalated dramatically, with allegations of ethnic cleansing emerging during the military's crackdown in 2017. The plight of the Rohingya reflects deep-rooted issues of nationalism and historical prejudice exacerbated by the legacy of British colonial rule, which fostered divisions among ethnic groups, including the Bamar Buddhists who dominate the country.

Sharifah Shakirah, a 31-year-old Rohingya, recently gained U.S. citizenship, representing a stark contrast to the fate of many still struggling in Bangladesh. With little hope for return to Rakhine, the Rohingya’s search for safety and dignity remains deeply uncertain, as systemic discrimination continues to exclude them from basic rights in Myanmar.

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