The Rohingya were denied citizenship by their own government after the Citizenship Act was passed in 1982, leaving most of the Rohingya stateless.
Without citizenship, they have had restrictions on their basic freedoms such as the two-child policy and restrictions on marriage.
Approximately one million Rohingya live in Burma, and most live in Rakhine State, which is in western Burma near the border of Bangladesh.
Thousands of Rohingya muslims have left Burma. The high volume of migrating Rohingya people has put the focus on neighboring countries.
Thailand and Malaysia have found themselves with an outflux of Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants trying to find refuge. Many are let stranded at sea or exposed to extortion from smugglers.