Legal Definitions - ethnic persecution

Definition: Ethnic persecution is a crime against humanity where a group of people are targeted and deprived of their fundamental rights based on their identity. This targeting is often based on political, racial, national, ethnic, cultural, religious, or gender identity. The deprivation is committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population, and the perpetrator knows or intends the deprivation to be a part of this attack.

Examples: One example of ethnic persecution is the genocide in Rwanda, where the Tutsi ethnic group was targeted and killed by the Hutu ethnic group. Another example is the treatment of the Rohingya people in Myanmar, where they have been denied citizenship and faced violence and displacement due to their ethnic identity.

Explanation: These examples illustrate ethnic persecution because in both cases, a specific group of people were targeted and deprived of their fundamental rights based on their ethnic identity. The attacks were part of a widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population, and the perpetrators knew or intended the deprivation to be a part of this attack. These actions are considered crimes against humanity and are punishable under international law.