ICJ Hears Allegations of Hate Speech and Incitement Against Rohingya in Myanmar

Hearings continued this week at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on The Gambia’s case accusing Myanmar of committing genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority, with lawyers alleging that Myanmar’s military used hate speech to incite violence.

According to the UN website, during proceedings on January 15, The Gambia’s legal team told the court that Rohingya were subjected to years of dehumanising rhetoric by senior military figures, including being referred to as “Muslim dogs” and portrayed as a group that should be eliminated. Lawyers cited social media material from 2017 allegedly showing soldiers encouraging attacks on Rohingya communities, which they said violated Myanmar’s obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention.

The case concerns military operations carried out between 2016 and 2018 in northern Rakhine State, which The Gambia says involved mass killings, sexual violence and the destruction of hundreds of villages, forcing about 700,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh. Myanmar has denied genocidal intent, describing its actions as counter-insurgency measures.

In 2020, the ICJ ordered Myanmar to take steps to prevent acts of genocide. The current hearings are part of efforts to determine state responsibility and possible reparations. Rohingya witnesses are expected to testify in the coming days.