Podcasts Culture Kutupalong Podcast Christian Rohingya experience persecution in the camps

Christian Rohingya experience persecution in the camps

Published: Feb. 4, 2020, 6:36 p.m.

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Podcast with Simon, Christian Rohingya community leader

On 26 January 2020, violence broke out between Christian and Muslim Rohingya in Kutupalong camp, Cox\\u2019s Bazar, Bangladesh. Our first podcast (in English) on this issue is available at this link:

Simon\\u2019s central message is that the Shukkur incident is the culmination of persistent targeting of the Christian community over the years. Christians are demonised as being fixated on proselytising and converting Muslims for the sake of money. Simon bemoans the complicit role of Muslim religious preachers in spinning this narrative. Additionally, Simon claims that Rohingya leaders in the diaspora, ARSA (Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army) and also unnamed Turkish organisations are all involved in the ostracisation of the Christian community. He singles out ARSA as having a particularly pernicious role, and claims that Shukkur is a member of ARSA.

Simon argues that Shukkur and his friends could have brought the weight of the Bangladeshi law and order authorities down on the Christians, if indeed they were responsible for beating him. He does not deny that Sukkur may have been beaten by the Christians. However, Simon finds it unsurprising that they chose to attack the entire community in that block. In doing so, according to Simon, they assaulted women, hospitalised over 12 people including children and destroyed the church. In addition, separately from the recorded interview, Simon claims that 4 Christians remain missing \\u2014 a Mr. Taher 55, his wife Mrs Kurshida 32, his daughter Mizan 14, and his other daughter, Mariam 8 years old.

We recorded Simon\\u2019s interview using WhatsApp voice messaging. We tried to speak to members of the Christian community in the camps but it was not possible because of the heavy presence of police. Mirza Galib presents.

Above: Church building from inside. Below : A home belonging to a Christian Rohingya. Pics courtesy of Simon.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rohingya.substack.com'