Accusations of Erasure: Myanmar on Trial as Rohingya Voices Reach World Court

In a case brought by The Gambia, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on January 12 began a historic hearing investigating claims that Myanmar had committed genocide against its Rohingya Muslim minority. It is also the first genocide case in a decade or so to be fully heard on its merits.

In an attempt to have the case heard, the Gambia told the judges that Myanmar was engaged in a decades-long erasure campaign targeting Rohingya, depriving them of citizenship, and dehumanising to such an extent that in 2017, during a military campaign, Rohingya were stripped of citizenship, subjected to mass killings, rape and arson (survivors of the 2017 campaign testified to these events).

Myanmar denies the charge of genocide, saying that its actions were lawful counter-terrorism. The current ruling military junta, which took power in a 2021 coup, now argues the case.

This will be the first time the Rohingya victims will be able to testify during closed sessions, which will be considered a historic moment of international justice. Later, a binding decision will be anticipated.