Rohingya
Pope Francis shouldn’t risk going to Myanmar
By Thomas Reese — November 20, 2017
(RNS) — Next week Pope Francis will visit Myanmar, where he risks either compromising his moral authority or putting in danger the Christians of that country. I have great admiration for the pope and his abilities, but someone should have talked him out of making this visit.
Myanmar Rohingya hatred has roots in Buddhist nationalism
By Yonat Shimron — September 29, 2017
BANGKOK (AP) — The prejudice and hostility that Rohingya Muslims face stretches back to an often virulent form of Buddhist nationalism that has seen a resurgence since the end of military rule in Myanmar.
The history of the persecution of Myanmar’s Rohingya
By Engy Abdelkader — September 21, 2017
(The Conversation) — This pattern of persecution goes back to 1948 – the year when the country achieved independence from their British colonizers.
Myanmar disaster another case of civilizational climate change
By Mark Silk — September 16, 2017
Xenophobic nationalism is the societal equivalent of global warming.
Nearly 3 weeks into Rohingya crisis, refugees still fleeing
By Jerome Socolovsky — September 14, 2017
COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh (AP) — The crisis has drawn global condemnation, with U.N. officials demanding Myanmar halt what they described as a campaign of ethnic cleansing that has driven some 400,000 Rohingya to flee Rakhine state.
In Myanmar, one girl’s plight epitomizes Rohingya struggle
By Yonat Shimron — July 5, 2017
DAR PAING, Myanmar (AP) More than 120,000 Rohingya Muslims were forced into a series of camps in western Myanmar as a result of the government's policy of persecution, segregation and neglect.
Pope decries treatment of Rohingya Muslims
By Josephine McKenna — February 8, 2017
(RNS) 'They are good people,' said Pope Francis. 'They are being tortured and killed, simply because they uphold their Muslim faith.'
Aid flotilla to help Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar
By guest — December 30, 2016
(REUTERS) The flotilla has yet to receive permission to enter Myanmar, sparking fears of a confrontation with security forces that could worsen Myanmar's already-frayed ties with predominantly Muslim Malaysia.
Myanmar says Muslim with links to government was murdered
By Lauren Markoe — December 26, 2016
YANGON (Reuters) The government said it was the second murder in under a week of a Rohingya who cooperated with authorities as they crack down on suspected insurgents.
Bike lanes * Saint Barbie * So long: October’s Religious Freedom Recap
By Brian Pellot — November 2, 2015
Churches attack bike lanes for "burdening" their religious freedom as Saint Barbie leads a plastic revolution in Argentina. Savor every word of this last ever recap as I say “so long” to On Freedom.
Myanmar’s Suu Kyi urges supporters not to let race, religion dominate upcoming election
By Reuters — October 17, 2015
Toungup, MYANMAR (Reuters) Hardline Buddhist monks and nationalists have branded Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy too sympathetic to Muslims and unwilling to protect Buddhism.
US Muslim activists sue Myanmar president over treatment of Rohingyas
By Reuters — October 3, 2015
Weeks before elections in Myanmar, the complaint, filed Oct. 1 in Manhattan federal court, accuses Thein Sein and top officials of "hate crimes and discrimination amounting to genocide."
Fake church * ISIS onesies * Albino hope: August’s Religious Freedom Recap
By Brian Pellot — September 1, 2015
HBO’s John Oliver trolls predatory televangelists by launching his own tax-exempt church. Spain arrests a man for selling ISIS shirts and baby onesies. And a U.S. charity is offering new limbs to albino children dismembered for black magic in Tanzania. Read on.
Myanmar’s president signs off on law seen as targeting Muslims
By Reuters — August 31, 2015
NAYPYIDAW (Reuters) Myanmar's president signed into law a fourth controversial bill championed by radical Buddhists but decried by rights groups as aimed at discriminating against local Muslims.
The ‘Splainer: Who are the Rohingya and why are they fleeing Myanmar?
By Brian Pellot — May 19, 2015
(RNS) Thousands of Rohingya have left Myanmar this spring and at least hundreds are now stranded at sea. Who are these Rohingya and what are they running from? Let us 'splain ...
