Iman Hossain (also known as Sonia ) Iman is a Rohingya transgender man from Show Pyin village, Rathedaung Township, Rakhine State, Myanmar. He belongs to one of the most persecuted communities in the world and the Rohingya,who have long been denied citizenship, freedom of movement, education, healthcare, and basic human rights by the Myanmar state.
As a transgender person, Iman faced additional discrimination and vulnerability, both within society and during periods of violence. His identity placed him at heightened risk during military operations targeting Rohingya civilians.
The 2017 Genocide in Northern Rakhine State
In August 2017, the Myanmar military launched what it called “clearance operations” across northern Rakhine State, including Rathedaung Township. These operations quickly escalated into mass atrocities, later described by the United Nations as having “genocidal intent.”
On 27 August 2017, violence reached Show Pyin village.
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According to Iman Hossain’s testimony:
Members of his own family were killed in front of his eyes, At least 358 villagers were killed from his village and 21 Rohingya women were gang-raped, 98 people were seriously injured and 58 civilians were arrested by Myanmar forces the arrested civilians have never been seen again, amounting to enforced disappearances Homes were burned, villages destroyed, and survivors were forced to flee under gunfire and fear.
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These acts were not isolated incidents but part of a systematic and coordinated campaign involving killings, sexual violence, arbitrary arrest, and forced displacement, Forced Flight and Childhood Trauma, At the time of the attack, Iman Hossain was only 14 years old.
After witnessing the killing of family members and the destruction of his village, he fled Myanmar to save his life. Along with thousands of others, he crossed into Bangladesh, joining a mass exodus of more than 740,000 Rohingya refugees in 2017.
The journey was dangerous and traumatic. Like many child refugees, Iman carried severe psychological scars from witnessing violence at such a young age. As a transgender child refugee, he also faced fear, insecurity, and social exclusion in displacement. Life as a Refugee and the Ongoing Impact, Since fleeing Myanmar, Iman Hossain has lived as a Rohingya refugee in Bangladesh. He continues to live with trauma, grief, and uncertainty, while also facing the challenges common to refugees, lack of legal status, limited education opportunities, and insecurity about the future.
Despite these hardships, Iman has chosen to speak out, believing that survivor testimony is essential for justice, memory, and prevention of future atrocities. His story represents not only his personal suffering, but also the collective pain of Show Pyin village and countless other Rohingya communities.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) Case: Hope for Accountability In 2019, The Gambia, on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), filed a case against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Myanmar of violating the Genocide Convention.
For survivors like Iman Hossain, this case represents a rare path toward international justice.
On 12 January 2026, the ICJ is expected to further discuss matters related to the Rohingya genocide. Survivors hope that: The atrocities committed in villages like Show Pyin will be formally raised.
The suffering of women, children, and LGBTQ+ Rohingya will be acknowledged Myanmar will be held accountable under international law. Iman Hossain and other Rohingya survivors are hoping for a fair and impartial trial, recognition of the genocide, and justice for those killed,raped, injured, and forcibly disappeared.
Iman Hossain lived a life full of hardship and suffering in a Bangladeshi refugee camp. After fleeing the genocide in Myanmar, he arrived in the camp carrying deep trauma, grief, and fear. He had no family members by his side and no one to support or protect him. Every day became a struggle for survival.
As a transgender man, Iman Hossain faced severe discrimination inside the refugee camp. Many neighbors did not accept his identity and treated him with hatred and cruelty. He was mocked, isolated, and made to feel unwelcome. Instead of finding safety after escaping violence, he faced rejection and hostility from the community around him.
Iman lived in constant fear, fear of harassment, abuse, and further violence. Ordinary activities such as using shared toilets, collecting humanitarian aid, or walking through the camp exposed him to danger and humiliation. In many cases, he was
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