By: Camp Correspondent
In 1991, a group of Rohingya Christians fled Myanmar due to persecution, discrimination, and marginalization by the government, accompanied by severe human rights violations. These individuals, whose fathers and grandfathers were Christians in Myanmar, began identifying as Rohingya Christians in 1992 after arriving in Bangladesh.
Rohingya Christian Population
Currently, over 400 Rohingya Christian families, comprising more than 1,500 individuals, reside in various camps. Among them, only 21 families are in the transit camp for protection, while the rest remain in other refugee camps. Christians account for less than one percent of the Rohingya population, with Peter Saiful estimating only about 1,500 Christians among the one million Rohingya living in Bangladesh.
Peter Saiful: A Voice for Rohingya Christians
Peter Saiful, a 30-year-old pastor of the Bethel Church Rohingya Christian Fellowship, serves as a representative of the Rohingya Christian community and a human rights activist. He emphasizes that Rohingya Christians are survivors of the same genocide as other Rohingya, stating, “We are born Christians. We were not converted by force or money.”
Challenges Faced by Rohingya Christians
Saiful recounts several attacks against Rohingya Christians, including violent incidents in 2017, 2019, and 2020. These attacks involved abductions, severe injuries, and even deaths. In 2022, attackers fired bullets into their transit camp but caused no injuries.
More recently, on December 14, 2024, a Rohingya YouTuber from India named Sheikh Abnan issued threats against Rohingya Christians in an online video. Posters targeting Rohingya Christians, including Saiful, were also hung in several camps, spreading rumors and inciting hatred within the Rohingya community.
Advocacy for Unity
Rohingya activist Wai Wai Nu addressed the situation in a video on her YouTube channel, emphasizing that being Rohingya is not linked to religion. She stated, “Our community historically includes Rohingya Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians. People should understand that being a Rohingya Christian does not mean they are any less Rohingya.”
A Muslim Rohingya from the refugee camp echoed this sentiment, saying, “We are all Rohingyas, and we are all persecuted by the Myanmar military. Even in the camp, there are a few Myanmar agents who want to create hatred and fighting among ourselves, and they are fueling this type of violence.”
Despite ongoing challenges, Saiful and the Rohingya Christian community continue to advocate for their rights while remaining steadfast in their faith and commitment to human rights.
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