UN court rejects Myanmar claims in Rohingya ‘genocide’ case

A Rohingya family reaches the Bangladesh border in 2017, after crossing a creek. Judges at the International Court of Justice rule Friday July 22, 2022, on whether a case brought by Gambia alleging that Myanmar is committing genocide against the Rohingya can go ahead. Myanmar argues that the court does not have jurisdiction (Bernat Armangue/AP/PA)

Judges at the United Nations’ highest court have dismissed preliminary objections by Myanmar to a case alleging the Southeast Asian nation is responsible for genocide against the Rohingya ethnic minority.

The decision establishing the International Court of Justice’s jurisdiction sets the stage for hearings airing evidence of atrocities against the Rohingya that human rights groups and a UN probe say breach the 1948 Genocide Convention.