Rohingya pin hopes on ICJ as genocide case opens

DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — For Rohingya refugees living in sprawling camps in southern Bangladesh, the opening of genocide hearings against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice is more than a legal milestone — it is a rare moment when their suffering is spoken aloud before the world.

On Monday, the United Nations’ top court began hearing arguments in a landmark case brought by The Gambia, accusing Myanmar of committing genocide against its mostly Muslim Rohingya minority. As proceedings opened in The Hague, Rohingya survivors followed developments from refugee camps thousands of kilometers away, carrying memories of violence that forced them into exile.

“We want justice and peace,” said Janifa Begum, 37, a mother of two who fled Myanmar during the military crackdown. “Our women lost their dignity when the military junta launched the eviction. Villages were burned, men were killed, and women became victims of widespread violence.”

Begum said her family’s home was destroyed during the violence. “My house was gutted,” she said. “I fled with my husband and two brothers-in-law with nothing — no food, no belongings. Later I heard they had grabbed my land.” Today, she lives in a crowded camp, raising her children amid uncertainty and trauma.

For many Rohingya refugees, the hearings represent long-overdue recognition after years of silence. Mohammad Sayed Ullah, 33, a former teacher and now a member of the United Council of Rohingya, said the case has reopened emotional wounds — but also a fragile sense of hope.

“I hope the ICJ will bring some solace to the deep wounds we are still carrying,” Ullah said. While acknowledging that the court has no enforcement power, he stressed the importance of accountability. “The perpetrators must be held accountable and punished. The sooner and fairer the trial is, the better the outcome will be. Only then can the repatriation process begin.”

Rohingya rights advocates say the hearings carry immense symbolic weight. Maung Thein Myint, a Rohingya human rights activist, said the case is rooted in truths survivors have been telling for years.

“My expectations from the ICJ hearings are rooted in lived suffering and long-denied truth,” he said. “I hope the court clearly recognizes that what was done to the Rohingya was genocide — systematic, state-led, and intended to erase our existence.”

In the camps of Cox’s Bazar, justice remains distant. Food shortages, education gaps and restrictions on movement continue to shape daily life. Yet for many refugees, the hearings have revived a sense that their voices may finally be heard.

“I want to see whether the suffering we endured is reflected during the hearing,” Begum said, holding her infant daughter. “I hope that one day we will return home and live there with dignity.”

Diaspora leaders echoed that sentiment. Tun Khin, president of the Burmese Rohingya Organization UK and chair of the Arakan Rohingya National Council, said the case marks an unprecedented moment. “After decades of violations of international law, this is the first time the Burmese military are in court having to defend themselves,” he said. “It is a big step forward on a long road to justice and accountability.”

Others described the proceedings as a turning point. Tawfiq Al-Mohsin, a Rohingya activist, said the hearings offer new hope that years of denial may finally end. Legal advocates also noted the broader significance, saying a finding of responsibility under the Genocide Convention would mark a historic step in holding a state accountable for genocide.

For the Rohingya, the case is not about precedent or legal doctrine. It is about memory, survival and the possibility — however distant — that justice may one day follow them home.