Persecution is the systematic mistreatment of an individual or group by another individual or group. Although most common forms arereligious persecution,ethnic persecution andpolitical persecution, repressive campaigns, including purges and massacres, have a long record of targeting theeducated classes: professionals, artists, academics, and otherintellectuals, with the earliest occurring at least as far back as second centuryBCEChina.

• Anti-intellectualism
• Persecution by victim
• Political and cultural purges