Thin Thin Swe, Burmese ex-Muslim, needs $ for breast cancer surgery

Thin Thin Swe is a trade unionist and a fundraiser for humanitarian aid for refugee camps in Myanmar. She is a humanist who believes in helping each other and supporting human rights. She was diagnosed with breast cancer and needs surgical operations, but she needs money to cover her medical bills. Due to her illness, all the refugee camps who rely on her face financial difficulties too.

She says, “I was born into a poor family. I worked as an industrial worker. I have met a lot of poor people working in dangerous workplace with almost no labor rights. I learned to stand up for others for our collective interests. I learned that despite of our differences in race, ethnicity, gender, and religious affiliation, we’re all human. We have to defend each other and respect each other.

Also, I was born into a mixed-race and mixed-religious family. So, I’ve experienced religious discrimination and ethnic conflicts. I was discriminated against by Buddhists because my dad is a Muslim and I witnessed my Buddhist mum being forcefully converted to Islam by my dad’s family. So, I have a unique perspective on racism. With that insight, I became an atheist, an individual who wishes to be free from religious prejudices. For me, religious prejudices lead to oppression. As long as religious prejudices survive, social justice will not be served.”