Stateless by Design: The Tragic Denial of Human Rights to the Rohingya Muslims

Abstract

The Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar represent one of the most persecuted and stateless communities in the modern world. Despite centuries of settlement in the Rakhine region, they have been systematically denied citizenship, civil rights, and protection under Myanmar’s legal framework. Since the 2017 military-led “clearance operations,” over a million Rohingya have fled to neighboring countries, facing dire humanitarian conditions. This article explores the historical, legal, and geopolitical dimensions of the Rohingya crisis, highlighting the role of Myanmar’s 1982 Citizenship Law, the failure of international mechanisms, and the broader implications for Muslim minorities globally. Drawing on recent scholarship and policy analysis, it argues that the Rohingya tragedy reflects both internal state-led exclusion and the global failure to uphold human rights norms.