Yaqeen Blog

As of late January 2026, the Rohingya refugee crisis remains one of the world's most protracted and underfunded humanitarian emergencies. Over 1.2 million Rohingya now reside in Bangladesh, primarily within the congested camps of Cox's Bazar and the isolated island of Bhasan Char. While the world's attention has often shifted elsewhere, the situation on the ground has entered a dangerous new phase defined by dwindling aid, escalating violence, and a controversial relocation project that has largely stalled.

Cox’s Bazar: The World’s Largest Pressure Cooker

Cox’s Bazar continues to be the most densely populated refugee settlement on Earth. Living conditions in the 33 camps are dire, with refugees facing a "triple threat" of natural disasters, health crises, and insecurity.

• Natural Hazards: Every year, seasonal monsoon rains trigger landslides and floods that destroy thousands of makeshift shelters. The camps are also extremely vulnerable to cyclones and frequent fires.

• Security Breakdown: A major "vibe shift" in the camps is the rise of armed groups and criminal networks. Frustrated youth, denied education and work, are increasingly being recruited by insurgent groups like the Arakan Army or local gangs, leading to "gang wars" that terrorize the population.

• The Aid Cliff: International funding has plummeted, forcing agencies like the UN and UNICEF to scale back food, water, and healthcare. In 2026, humanitarian appeals are struggling to meet even 50% of the required $698 million needed for life-saving assistance.

Bhasan Char: The "Prison Island" Reality

The government's plan to decongest Cox’s Bazar by moving 100,000 refugees to the remote island of Bhasan Char has hit a major wall. While the island features concrete buildings and better infrastructure than the mainland, it is widely criticized as a "detention camp".

• Relocation Halted: As of December 2025, the new interim government in Bangladesh has indefinitely suspended further relocations to the island, calling the project "unsustainable" and too expensive.

• The Escape Trend: Approximately 10,000 refugees have already fled Bhasan Char, often risking their lives on dangerous boat journeys to reach the mainland or other countries.

• Rights and Restrictions: Those who remain on the island—currently around 35,000—live under severe movement restrictions. They are denied the right to work, have limited access to education, and cannot leave without military or navy clearance.

The Repatriation Standoff

The ultimate goal for the Bangladesh government remains the voluntary and dignified repatriation of the Rohingya to Myanmar's Rakhine State. However, the reality in 2026 makes this "main character" solution feel like a remote prospect.

• Myanmar in Chaos: Ongoing conflict between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army has actually driven new arrivals into Bangladesh rather than allowing anyone to go home.

• The Citizenship Issue: Myanmar still refuses to grant the Rohingya full citizenship, which is a key requirement for any safe return.

• The ICJ Case: Meanwhile, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague is currently holding marathon hearings to determine if Myanmar’s 2017 military operations constituted genocide.

The Verdict: A Generation Without a Future

For the refugees like Mounir and his three children, life in 2026 is a "Canon Event" of survival. An entire generation of Rohingya youth is growing up "connected" to the world via digital technology but completely "disconnected" from any legal path to a career, citizenship, or a home. Without a massive surge in international support and a political breakthrough in Myanmar, Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char will remain monuments to human suffering and global neglect.

In 2026, the global human rights landscape is facing a "perfect storm." Wars in the Middle East, the collapse of governments in Africa, and the rise of high-tech surveillance in Asia have created a world where millions live under constant fear.

According to Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the 2026 World Report, the following 10 countries stand out as the most repressive. These nations are not just strict; they are places where the government treats its own citizens as enemies of the state.

1. Afghanistan

Under the Taliban’s continued rule in 2026, Afghanistan has become the world’s only country where "gender apartheid" is the law.

• The Crimes: Women are banned from all public life, including education and work. The Taliban’s Ministry for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice enforces strict dress codes through public beatings and arbitrary arrests.

• Violence: HRW has documented hundreds of extra-judicial killings of former government officials and security forces, often carried out as "revenge" murders.

• Official HRW Page: https://www.hrw.org/asia/afghanistan

2. Iran

As of January 2026, Iran is in the middle of a massive crackdown following a new wave of nationwide protests.

• The Crimes: Security forces are reportedly using heavy machine guns against protesters in cities like Karaj and Rasht. Over 3,400 people have been killed in the last two weeks alone.

• Torture: Detainees are being "finished off" in medical facilities, and the judiciary has declared all protesters as "enemies of God," a charge that carries a mandatory death sentence.

• Official HRW Page: https://www.hrw.org/middle-east/n-africa/iran

3. North Korea (DPRK)

North Korea remains the most closed society on Earth in 2026.

• The Crimes: The government operates a network of political prison camps (Kwanliso) where up to 200,000 people are subjected to forced labor, starvation, and systematic torture.

• Control: Leaving the country without permission is treated as "treason," punishable by execution or life in a labor camp.

• Official HRW Page: https://www.hrw.org/asia/north-korea

4. Eritrea

Often called the "North Korea of Africa," Eritrea uses a system of indefinite national service to enslave its population.

• The Crimes: Citizens as young as 16 are forced into military or labor service that can last for decades. Those who try to escape are imprisoned in shipping containers in the desert heat.

• Extra-Judicial Killings: Guards have a "shoot-to-kill" policy for anyone trying to cross the border into Ethiopia.

• Official HRW Page: https://www.hrw.org/africa/eritrea

5. Syria

Despite the fall of the Assad regime in late 2025, Syria remains a landscape of horror as various armed groups fight for control.

• The Crimes: For over a decade, torture was an industrial-scale activity in state prisons. In 2026, new mass graves are still being discovered.

• Corruption: Warlords and local militias now control aid routes, using food and medicine as weapons to extort the starving population.

• Official HRW Page: https://www.hrw.org/middle-east/n-africa/syria

6. Myanmar

The military junta continues its campaign of terror against its own people in 2026.

• The Crimes: The military uses airstrikes on schools, clinics, and monasteries. Over 100,000 homes have been burned down in arson attacks meant to "cleanse" opposition areas.

• Rohingya Crisis: The military continues to enforce an "apartheid" system against the Rohingya Muslim minority, with thousands still trapped in displacement camps.

• Official HRW Page: https://www.hrw.org/asia/myanmar-burma

7. China

In 2026, China has refined the world's most advanced surveillance state.

• The Crimes: In Xinjiang, over a million Uyghur Muslims remain in "re-education" camps or forced labor factories.

• Repression: In Tibet, the government has begun searching cell phones on the street for "illegal" religious content, arresting anyone who has a photo of the Dalai Lama or uses unauthorized apps.

• Official HRW Page: https://www.hrw.org/asia/china-and-tibet

8. South Sudan

South Sudan suffers from a total collapse of the rule of law in 2026.

• The Crimes: Government and opposition forces use sexual violence as a primary tool of war. Extra-judicial executions are common, often ordered by local governors to "subdue" ethnic rivals.

• Corruption: Government officials have stolen billions in oil wealth while the country faces the world's highest levels of acute hunger.

• Official HRW Page: https://www.hrw.org/africa/south-sudan

9. Sudan

The war between the SAF and the RSF has turned Sudan into a slaughterhouse in 2026.

• The Crimes: Both sides have been caught on video executing and dehumanizing prisoners. The RSF has been accused of "ethnic cleansing" in Darfur, where thousands of civilians are targeted based on their race.

• Torture: Intelligence agencies from both sides operate "ghost houses" where activists and medical volunteers are starved and beaten.

• Official HRW Page: https://www.hrw.org/africa/sudan

10. Turkmenistan

As we discussed before, Turkmenistan remains a "personality cult" where the state controls everything.

• The Crimes: Enforced disappearances are the state's favorite tool. Hundreds of people have disappeared into the prison system without their families knowing if they are alive or dead.

• Corruption: The ruling family uses the nation's gas wealth to build marble monuments while basic human rights like freedom of movement and speech are completely non-existent.

• Official HRW Page: https://www.hrw.org/europe/central-asia/turkmenistan

Final Analysis: The Cycle of Impunity

The biggest problem in 2026 isn't just that these crimes are happening—it's that the world's major powers are often too busy or too divided to stop them. As long as these leaders can kill and steal without facing a court, the cycle of repression will continue.

In the world of international law, the term War Criminal is a serious label. It refers to a person who is responsible for "War Crimes"—actions that break the global rules meant to keep war from becoming a total massacre of innocent people. These rules, known as the Geneva Conventions, are like a "World Law" that says you cannot intentionally hurt civilians, torture prisoners, or destroy homes and hospitals without a clear military reason.

This piece looks at ten major American leaders who have been accused of breaking these rules. While none of them were ever officially convicted in a world court, their decisions led to the deaths of millions of people. Understanding these cases is the only way to see how real power actually works behind the scenes.

According to international treaties like the Geneva Conventions, war crimes include things like:

• Intentionally killing or mistreating civilians.

• Torture or inhumane treatment of prisoners.

• Destroying homes, schools, or hospitals that have no military use.

• Launching attacks that they know will cause excessive death to innocent people.

The individuals below are some of the most prominent U.S. leaders who have faced serious, documented allegations of war crimes by human rights organizations, international lawyers, or foreign governments.

1. Henry Kissinger (Secretary of State, 1973–1977)

Kissinger is perhaps the most frequently cited figure in discussions of U.S. war crimes. His "realpolitik" approach—putting U.S. power above all else—led to interventions that caused massive loss of life.

• The Allegations: Secretly carpet-bombing neutral Cambodia, supporting the "dirty wars" in Argentina and Chile, and greenlighting the Indonesian invasion of East Timor.

• Estimated Lives Lost: 3 million to 4 million across Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Bangladesh, and East Timor.

• Wikipedia Profile

2. George W. Bush (President, 2001–2009)

Bush is accused primarily for his decision to launch the "unlawful" invasion of Iraq based on false intelligence regarding weapons of mass destruction.

• The Allegations: Waging a "war of aggression," authorizing "enhanced interrogation" (torture) at sites like Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay, and failing to protect civilians during the occupation.

• Estimated Lives Lost: 100,000 to over 600,000 Iraqis (depending on the study) during the invasion and subsequent sectarian violence.

• Wikipedia Profile

3. Harry S. Truman (President, 1945–1953)

The debate over Truman centers on his final decision to use atomic weapons, making him the only leader in history to use nuclear arms in war.

• The Allegations: Intentionally targeting civilian populations in Hiroshima and Nagasaki with a weapon of mass destruction, which many argue was militarily unnecessary.

• Estimated Lives Lost: 129,000 to 226,000, mostly civilians, killed instantly or by radiation.

• Wikipedia Profile

4. Dick Cheney (Vice President, 2001–2009)

As the "architect" of the War on Terror, Cheney is accused of pushing for policies that bypassed both international law and the U.S. Constitution.

• The Allegations: Promoting the use of torture, illegal mass surveillance, and overseeing the invasion of Panama in 1989 (as Secretary of Defense) which killed thousands of civilians.

• Estimated Lives Lost: Included in the 4.5 million deaths associated with post-9/11 war zones (Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen).

• Wikipedia Profile

5. Donald Rumsfeld (Secretary of Defense, 2001–2006)

Rumsfeld was the direct supervisor of the military during the height of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

• The Allegations: Specifically approving interrogation techniques that constituted torture and being "repeatedly notified" of prisoner abuse but failing to stop it.

• Estimated Lives Lost: Significant portion of the hundreds of thousands of civilian deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan.

• Wikipedia Profile

6. Barack Obama (President, 2009–2017)

While seen as a diplomat, Obama’s massive expansion of the drone program has led to accusations from groups like Amnesty International.

• The Allegations: Ordering "double-tap" drone strikes (striking rescuers helping the first victims) and the "surgical" bombing of countries where the U.S. was not officially at war.

• Estimated Lives Lost: Between 384 and 807 civilians in Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen, plus thousands of combatants.

• Wikipedia Profile

7. Ronald Reagan (President, 1981–1989)

Reagan’s focus on the Cold War led to the support of violent regimes in Latin America.

• The Allegations: Funding "death squads" in El Salvador and the Contras in Nicaragua, even after Congress made it illegal.

• Estimated Lives Lost: 75,000 in El Salvador and 30,000 in Nicaragua.

• Wikipedia Profile

8. Lyndon B. Johnson (President, 1963–1969)

LBJ oversaw the largest escalation of the Vietnam War.

• The Allegations: Ordering "search and destroy" missions and the massive aerial bombing of North Vietnam (Operation Rolling Thunder), which resulted in high civilian casualties.

• Estimated Lives Lost: 1 million to 3 million Vietnamese (combatants and civilians combined).

• Wikipedia Profile

9. Bill Clinton (President, 1993–2001)

The most specific allegation against Clinton involves a single strike with long-lasting consequences.

• The Allegations: The 1998 bombing of the Al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory in Sudan, which the U.S. claimed was a chemical weapons plant. It was actually a medicine factory, and its loss led to thousands of indirect deaths from disease.

• Estimated Lives Lost: Tens of thousands of Sudanese due to the loss of malaria and TB medicine.

• Wikipedia Profile

10. Donald Trump (President, 2017–2021)

Trump is accused of loosening the "rules of engagement," which led to a spike in civilian casualties during his term.

• The Allegations: Indiscriminate bombing of cities like Raqqa and Mosul and removing requirements to report civilian deaths from CIA drone strikes.

• Estimated Lives Lost: Thousands of non-combatants; Airwars alleged a record 1,000 non-combatant deaths in just one month (March 2017).

• Wikipedia Profile

The Lesson: Why This List Exists

This list is a way to look at the "Chain of Command." In war, the person who pulls the trigger is usually a soldier, but the person who made the crime possible is the leader who gave the order. These leaders often say they did these things to "protect the country," but historians and lawyers argue that no goal is worth breaking the basic laws of humanity.

By looking at these names, we can see that having "Real Power" also means having a huge responsibility. When a leader ignores the rules of war, it isn't just a political mistake—it's a choice that changes the lives of millions of people forever.

In the final days of 2025 and the opening weeks of 2026, the American political class has orchestrated a series of high-definition geopolitical dramas that serve a precise domestic function: the Manufacturing of Diversion. As the United States navigates a period of profound economic fragility and the total collapse of its international moral standing, the state has reverted to what Professor Noam Chomsky identifies as the "Propaganda Model"—creating external monsters to justify internal rot.

The "Successful" Coup: A Manhattan Melodrama

The recent extraction of Nicolás Maduro to a federal courtroom in New York is a masterpiece of diversionary theater. By framing the Venezuelan crisis as a cinematic struggle between "Law and Order" and a "Narco-Dictator," the Trump administration has successfully moved the goalposts of public discourse.

The media focus on Maduro’s blue jail uniform serves to bury a far more uncomfortable reality: the U.S. has effectively lost its ability to lead through diplomacy, relying instead on "kidnapping" as a primary tool of foreign policy. This spectacle allows the administration to claim a victory for the Monroe Doctrine, signaling to a domestic audience that America is still "strong," even as its influence in the Eastern Hemisphere evaporates.

The Shadow of Gaza: 70,000 Reasons for Silence

The most pressing issue from which the public must be diverted is the participation of the United States in the genocide in Gaza. With the death toll officially surpassing 70,000 Palestinians—a number that represents the systematic erasure of families and infrastructure—the U.S. role as the "arsenal of democracy" has been replaced by its role as the co-sponsor of a humanitarian catastrophe.

The distraction here is not just the absence of coverage, but the type of coverage. By focusing on "ceasefire frameworks" and the appointment of U.S. generals to "stabilization forces," the state transforms a moral horror into a logistical management problem. This sanitization of violence is designed to prevent the American public from connecting the $21 billion in military aid sent to Israel with the stagflation-lite economy at home, where 3% inflation and stagnant wages have made basic living unaffordable for the bottom 60% of households.

The Forgotten Fronts: Sudan and Congo as Collateral Damage

In the Chomskyan framework, the most powerful form of propaganda is the "Un-Person." In 2026, the victims in Sudan (the world's largest refugee crisis) and the Congo have become Un-People.

• Sudan: While the U.S. obsesses over Maduro, over 150,000 Sudanese have been killed and millions face famine. The U.S. maintains a policy of "selective engagement," intervening only where its transactional interests in gold and regional stability are threatened.

• The Congo: The unchecked violence in the Kivu provinces is a direct result of the Western demand for "Green Energy" minerals. The distraction here is the "Climate Transition" narrative, which masks the fact that the lithium and cobalt powering American EVs are extracted through the displacement and death of Congolese civilians.

Conclusion: The Economy of Fear

The ultimate distraction is the "Great Enemy" narrative. By escalating tensions with Iran and China, the state justifies a defense-heavy budget that prioritizes the military-industrial complex over domestic infrastructure.

For the layman, the message is simple: you are being told to look at "dangerous dictators" abroad so you don't look at the K-shaped divergence in your own bank account. The loss of American dignity on the world stage—the inability to lecture on human rights while 70,000 lie dead in Gaza—is a wound that cannot be healed by coups in Venezuela. It requires a fundamental shift in the distribution of power, a shift that the "Spectacle" is designed to prevent.

For those unaware, the Gujarat riots of 2002 remain one of the most polarizing and scrutinized chapters in modern history. It is a case study in Institutional Collapse, Judicial Resilience, and the complex intersection of Criminal Law and Political Sovereignty.

1. The Trigger: The Godhra Train Burning (Feb 27, 2002)

The violence began on the morning of February 27, 2002, at the Godhra railway station. The Sabarmati Express, carrying Karsevaks (Hindu pilgrims) from Ayodhya, was attacked by a mob.

• The Incident: Four coaches were set on fire, resulting in the deaths of 59 people, including women and children.

• The Fallout: The state government, led by then-Chief Minister Narendra Modi, labeled it a "pre-planned terrorist act." This sparked a retaliatory wave of communal violence across Gujarat that lasted for months.

2. The Massacres: A State in Turmoil

Official figures state that 1,044 people were killed (790 Muslims and 254 Hindus), while unofficial estimates by human rights organizations put the death toll at over 2,000.

• Naroda Patiya: One of the deadliest massacres, where 97 Muslims were killed.

• Gulberg Society: 69 people, including former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, were killed. Jafri famously made dozens of phone calls to top officials for help before being murdered.

• The Squeeze: Reports detailed horrific acts of sexual violence and the systematic targeting of minority-owned businesses using municipal voter lists.

3. Allegations of State Complicity

The controversy centers on the role of the Gujarat state administration. Whistleblowers and critics alleged:

• The "Vent Anger" Theory: Claims that Modi instructed police to allow the "angry majority" to vent their frustration.

• Police Inaction: Allegations that police were "given orders not to save" the minority community.

• Army Delay: The 48-hour delay in calling in the Army while the city burned.

4. The Judicial Audit: The "Clean Chit" (2012–2022)

Following national pressure, the Supreme Court of India appointed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in 2008.

• The SIT Findings (2012): The SIT concluded there was no prosecutable evidence linking Modi to a "larger criminal conspiracy."

• The Supreme Court Finality (2022): In June 2022, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition by Zakia Jafri challenging the SIT's findings, praising the SIT for its "indefatigable work" and upholding the "Clean Chit."

The 2026 Strategic Conclusion: Signal vs. Noise

In the 2026 historical lens, the Gujarat Massacres represent the ultimate Sovereign Wound. To his supporters, the verdict is the gold standard of truth; to his critics, it remains a controversial institutional shield. Regardless of alignment, the tragedy led to a radical overhaul of Indian riot-control and witness protection laws.

Principal Historical & Judicial Sources

Supreme Court Observer: Zakia Jafri vs. State of Gujarat Case Summary

https://www.scobserver.in/reports/zakia-jafri-judgment-summary/

Human Rights Watch: "We Have No Orders to Save You" (2002 Report)

https://www.hrw.org/reports/2002/india/

Nanavati-Mehta Commission Report (Wikipedia)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanavati-Mehta_Commission

SIT Closing Report on 2002 Riots - Full Text

https://www.scobserver.in/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/SIT-Report-Closing-the-Investigation-of-Mrs.-Zakia-Jafris-Complaint.pdf

The decision by Swiss singer Nemo, the 2024 Eurovision winner, to return their glass microphone trophy to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is the latest and most dramatic development in the ongoing political fallout surrounding Israel's participation in the contest. Nemo, the first openly non-binary winner, stated that the EBU's refusal to expel Israel—citing a "clear conflict" between the competition’s stated values of "unity, inclusion, and dignity for all" and Israel's conduct in the Gaza conflict—means the trophy no longer belongs on their shelf. They explicitly stated this protest is not against individual artists but against the contest being used to "soften the image of a state accused of severe wrongdoing." The move, made via an Instagram video, is a powerful personal statement that injects the debate directly into the contest's Hall of Fame.

The immediate relevance of Nemo's protest is the further destabilization of the Eurovision Song Contest, a cultural event that prides itself on being "non-political" but is now facing an unprecedented level of political division. The act follows a recent EBU General Assembly vote to keep Israel in the 2026 competition. In response, five national broadcasters—Iceland, Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Slovenia—have already announced they will boycott next year's event. This growing wave of withdrawals and high-profile protests deepens the crisis for the EBU, making the 2026 contest, slated for Vienna, one of the most politically turbulent in its history. The organization's official response was to express sadness but to respect Nemo’s "deeply held views," maintaining the position that the contest is apolitical despite the mounting boycotts and direct rebuke from a reigning champion.

• Read Al-Jazeera report