⏵ Propaganda and Hate in Offline and Digital Spaces Disturbing violence against the community at the hands of multiple forces is a recurring feature in Rakhine. Data shows that the violence has been on the rise since the country's independence.2 Given the nature of the system of persecution, armed and political leadership is a crucial driver, often preceded by religious and political mobilization mainly carried through propaganda and hate. Coinciding with the rise in violence from 2012, the advent of social media has given leaders, armed groups and far-right Buddhist supremacists a powerful space to perpetuate hate through offline mood and digital spaces like Facebook, twitter and ect. As we have seen, the testimonies highlight how both the Myanmar military and the AA systematically create propaganda and spread anti-Rohingya narratives throughout Rakhine State and abroad. The objective of this propaganda is to legitimize Rohingya persecution by denying their indigenous status and framing them as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh or security threat, and the other to incite social division by fostering hostility between Rohingya and other ethnic communities. For instance, Salamat Ulla (Name Changed) testifies to propaganda in the following way: “Both the AA and the Myanmar military actively spread false propaganda and hatred against the Rohingya community. Their goal is to justify the persecution of Rohingya, remove us from the country, and create social disharmony among different communities. The Myanmar military has long used state-controlled media and official narratives to portray Rohingya as illegal immigrants or terrorists, denying our rightful identity and presence in Rakhine. This propaganda fuels discrimination, making it easier for the government to justify its oppressive policies. Similarly, the AA also promotes anti-Rohingya propaganda, portraying us as outsiders or a threat to their 2 For detailed information on the violence and persecution of the community, see links. https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/in-depth/myanmar-rohingya-refugee-crisis-humanitarian-aid-banglad esh, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rohingya_conflict , https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/atrocities-against-burmas-rohingya-population, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rohingya_people, https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/political-science/articles/10.3389/fpos.2024.1144493/full , https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/10/myanmar-bangladesh-rohingya-community-facing-grave st-threats-since-2017/ 82