Born in 1979 and raised in a small village in western Burma, Habiburahman faced immense challenges. When he was just three years old, Burma's military leader declared that the Rohingya were not one of the 135 "recognized ethnic groups" in the country. As a result, they were left stateless, denied basic rights and recognition. Since 1982, millions of Rohingya have been forced to flee their homes due to extreme prejudice and persecution. In 2016 and 2017, the situation escalated further as the government intensified ethnic cleansing efforts, leading to over 600,000 Rohingya people being forced to cross the border into Bangladesh. First, They Erased Our Name provides an account of what it feels like to be repressed in one's own country and to become a refugee elsewhere. It gives voice to those who have been silenced and highlights the global humanitarian crisis faced by the Rohingya community.

Translation of : D'abord, ils ont effacé notre nom.