Rohingya Heritage Exhibition at EU Parliament Highlights Crisis & Aid Needs

Brussels – An exhibition opened Tuesday at the European Parliament dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage of the Rohingya people, a Muslim minority group largely displaced from Myanmar. The exhibition, titled “Rohingya Heritage in Exile: Arar Rosom, Arar Elom (Our Culture, Our Knowledge),” coincides with renewed calls from European lawmakers for increased international pressure on Myanmar’s military junta and a bolstering of humanitarian aid for Rohingya refugees, primarily those residing in camps in Bangladesh. The event underscores a growing concern that the plight of the Rohingya is fading from global attention despite deteriorating conditions.

A Cultural Lifeline Amidst Displacement

Curated by the Rohingya Cultural Memory Centre of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a United Nations agency, the exhibition focuses on the preservation of cultural traditions, collective memory and creative expression within the Rohingya refugee community. More than one million Rohingya refugees currently live in overcrowded camps in Cox’s Bazar, southeastern Bangladesh, having fled a brutal military crackdown in Myanmar beginning in 2017. The United Nations has described that crackdown as ethnic cleansing. Urmas Paet, vice-chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, opened the exhibition, emphasizing the urgency of the humanitarian situation and the risk of the crisis being forgotten.

Worsening Conditions in Cox’s Bazar

Paet, who has visited the Cox’s Bazar camps both eight years ago and late last year, has witnessed a marked deterioration in living conditions. Overcrowding, food insecurity, and critical funding shortfalls are placing increasing strain on the refugee population, particularly women and children. Aid agencies have repeatedly warned that reductions in international assistance will exacerbate malnutrition and protection concerns. The sprawling Cox’s Bazar settlement is now widely regarded as the world’s largest refugee camp, housing over 1.2 million people. The IOM’s work in documenting and preserving Rohingya culture is seen as a vital effort to maintain identity and resilience in the face of displacement. Muslim Network TV reports on the exhibition’s opening and the renewed calls for action.

The Roots of the Crisis: A History of Persecution

The current crisis is not a sudden event, but rather the culmination of decades of systematic persecution of the Rohingya people in Myanmar. Beginning in the 1970s, the Rohingya, who identify as indigenous to Rakhine State, have been denied citizenship, access to basic services, and subjected to various forms of discrimination and violence. Researchers at Queen Mary University of London documented a pattern of “ghettoisation, sporadic massacres, and restrictions on movement” as early as 2015, warning of the potential for escalating atrocities. UChicago Voices provides historical context on the crisis.

The situation dramatically worsened in 2017, following attacks on Myanmar security forces by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA). The military responded with a brutal crackdown, forcing hundreds of thousands of Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh. While the Myanmar government has maintained that its operations were aimed at combating terrorism, the UN has documented widespread human rights violations, including killings, sexual violence, and arson, characterizing the response as a deliberate attempt to drive the Rohingya from their homes.

Myanmar’s Political Landscape and the 2021 Coup

The persecution of the Rohingya is deeply intertwined with Myanmar’s complex political landscape and its long history of military rule. The country transitioned to a quasi-civilian government in 2011, and Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, became the de facto leader. Still, the military retained significant power, and the Rohingya crisis unfolded under her administration, drawing international criticism for her perceived inaction.

In February 2021, the military seized power in a coup, alleging widespread electoral fraud in the November 2020 general elections. Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested, and the country plunged into further turmoil. The coup has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis and further complicated efforts to uncover a resolution to the Rohingya issue. The European Parliament’s research service details the context of the 2021 coup and its impact on the situation.

The EU’s Response and the Limits of Leverage

The European Union has consistently condemned the persecution of the Rohingya and has imposed sanctions on Myanmar military officials implicated in human rights abuses. The EU is also a major donor of humanitarian aid to the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. However, the EU’s leverage over Myanmar is limited, particularly given the junta’s growing ties with China and Russia, which provide crucial political and military support.

The EU does not recognize the legitimacy of the current military regime in Myanmar, which organized general elections in December 2025 that have been widely dismissed as a “sham” by the United Nations and international observers. The results of those elections are expected to be announced by the end of January 2026. ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) has also attempted to mediate the crisis, but its Five-Point Consensus plan has proven ineffective.

Conflicting Signals and the Question of Repatriation

The international community faces a difficult dilemma in its approach to Myanmar. While maintaining pressure on the military regime is essential to prevent further human rights abuses, engaging with the junta is seen by some as necessary to facilitate humanitarian access and explore potential pathways for a peaceful resolution. The issue of Rohingya repatriation remains highly sensitive. Rohingya refugees are reluctant to return to Myanmar without guarantees of safety, citizenship, and full rights. The conditions inside Myanmar remain unstable, and there are concerns that returning refugees would face renewed persecution.

What’s confirmed: The EU is increasing attention to the Rohingya crisis through cultural initiatives like the exhibition. Conditions in Cox’s Bazar are deteriorating. The Myanmar junta continues to consolidate power with support from China and Russia. What’s unclear: The long-term prospects for a peaceful resolution and the safe and voluntary repatriation of Rohingya refugees remain uncertain. The effectiveness of international pressure on the junta is questionable.

Looking Ahead: Sustained Pressure and Humanitarian Support

The exhibition at the European Parliament serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing suffering of the Rohingya people and the urgent necessitate for a concerted international response. Sustained diplomatic pressure on Myanmar, coupled with increased humanitarian assistance to refugees in Bangladesh, are crucial steps. However, a lasting solution will require addressing the root causes of the crisis, including the denial of citizenship and the systemic discrimination faced by the Rohingya.

The EU, along with other international actors, must continue to advocate for accountability for human rights violations and work towards creating conditions that allow for the safe and dignified return of Rohingya refugees to their homeland. The situation demands not only immediate humanitarian relief but also a long-term commitment to justice, reconciliation, and inclusive governance in Myanmar. The international community must also address the broader geopolitical dynamics at play, including the influence of China and Russia, to create a more conducive environment for a peaceful and sustainable resolution.