History was made on Sunday, 12 April, as Newcastle upon Tyne became the first city in the UK — and the world — to unveil a permanent memorial dedicated to the victims of the Rohingya genocide.
The landmark memorial, situated in Newcastle City Council’s Peace Garden, was officially unveiled following a civic ceremony at the Council Chamber and a procession led by the Lord Mayor. The initiative, spearheaded by Independent Newcastle councillor and human rights advocate Cllr Habib Rahman, represents a significant commitment to remembrance, justice and global awareness.
The formal civic event, hosted by the city’s first Muslim and Black Lord Mayor, Cllr Habib Rahman — who is due to stand down in May — featured contributions from a wide range of prominent figures. Speakers included Councillor Karen Kilgour, Leader of Newcastle City Council; Ann Schofield of Rohingya Action North East; Tun Khin, President of the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK; Nur Huda, Chairman of the British Rohingya Community; Dr M Nazrul Islam, Acting High Commissioner of Bangladesh to the UK; genocide experts Dr Maung Zarni and Dr Nat Brinham; Amnesty International representatives Ruby Moe and Richard Kotter; activist Sirazul Islam, who was born in Kutupalong refugee camp in Bangladesh; Rohingya campaigner Shaukat Ahmed MBE; Alice Gaparay of the North East Rwandan Association; and Mohammed Wafi of the Palestinian Community North East.
A procession to the Peace Garden followed, led by the Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Cllr Henry Gallagher, alongside the Mayor of Sunderland, Cllr Ehthesham Hoque, who formally unveiled the memorial.
Developed through a collaboration between Newcastle City Council, Rohingya Action North East (RANE), the British Rohingya Community (BRC), and the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK), the memorial stands as a permanent tribute to Rohingya victims and survivors.
Cllr Habib Rahman described the unveiling as a moment of global significance.
“This is a historic moment not just for Newcastle, but for the international community,” he said. “Today we honour the lives lost, recognise the resilience of survivors, and send a clear message that genocide must never be ignored or forgotten. This memorial stands as a permanent reminder of our shared responsibility to speak out against injustice and uphold human dignity.”
The Rohingya people have endured decades of persecution, culminating in a campaign of mass violence and displacement that forced more than one million people to flee their homes.
Tun Khin, President of BROUK, said the memorial marked a long-overdue recognition.
“For the Rohingya community, recognition matters deeply,” he said. “For too long, our suffering has been denied, ignored and pushed aside while the world failed to act. This memorial is a powerful symbol that our pain is acknowledged, that our voices matter and that the truth cannot be erased.
“We are deeply grateful to Cllr Habib Rahman and Newcastle City Council for this act of solidarity. It sends a clear message far beyond this city — that Rohingya people everywhere are not forgotten.”
Nijam Uddin of the British Rohingya Community added that the memorial would serve both as a place of reflection and a tool for education.
“It honours those we have lost and gives strength to survivors,” he said. “It will also help educate future generations so that such atrocities are never repeated.”
The memorial stone, crafted by Nationwide Headstone Company Ltd, was jointly funded by BRC, BROUK and RANE, alongside the costs of the unveiling.
Beyond remembrance, the initiative underscores the importance of education, awareness and continued advocacy for justice and accountability.
As visitors gather at the Peace Garden in years to come, the memorial will stand not only as a tribute to the Rohingya people, but as a lasting call to action for the international community.
