Democracy is often praised as a system that ensures equality, freedom, and self-determination for all. However, in many so-called democratic nations, minorities—whether ethnic, religious, racial, linguistic, or ideological—find themselves reduced to second-class citizens. Despite constitutional guarantees, they frequently lack the power to make their own decisions, as political majorities, systemic discrimination, and state policies control their fate. The reality is that democracy, instead of being a system of equal representation, often becomes a tool for the majority to dominate and suppress minority groups. At the heart of this issue is the fundamental flaw of majority rule. Since democracies function on the principle that the group with the most votes determines national policies, the voices of smaller communities are often drowned out. Politicians, seeking electoral success, cater to the needs of majority populations while sidelining the interests of minorities. This results in electoral dominance, where political parties only pay lip service to minority concerns while shaping policies that primarily benefit the dominant group. Cultural and religious minorities often see their traditions marginalized, their histories erased from educational curriculums, and their voices ignored in the decision-making process. The political system in many democracies further restricts minorities from holding real power. While there may be representatives from minority communities in government, their presence is often symbolic rather than influential. Political parties use minorities as vote banks, offering promises during election campaigns but rarely delivering substantial policy changes that benefit them. Electoral boundaries and voting systems are sometimes manipulated to weaken minority influence, ensuring that they never hold a majority in key decision-making institutions. This leaves minorities dependent on the goodwill of majority-led governments, which may or may not consider their needs when creating laws and policies. Legal and social discrimination further reinforces the second-class status of minorities. In many democracies, laws are designed to subtly suppress minority rights while maintaining the appearance of fairness. Religious and cultural restrictions, such as bans on certain attire, practices, or traditions, are justified under the guise of secularism, even though they disproportionately affect minority groups. Economic exclusion is another major issue, with minorities often facing job discrimination, unequal wages, and barriers to entrepreneurship. Additionally, security policies frequently target minority communities, subjecting them to excessive policing, surveillance, and criminalization. Instead of being protected by the legal system, minorities often find themselves at the receiving end of institutionalized oppression. The media plays a crucial role in controlling the narrative surrounding minorities, shaping public perception in ways that justify discrimination. Governments and dominant social groups use mainstream media to portray minorities as threats to national security, socially backward, or economically dependent. These narratives reinforce stereotypes and create an environment where discriminatory policies are not only tolerated but even supported by the majority. Any attempt by minorities to protest or demand equal rights is often met with backlash, with the state using legal crackdowns, media suppression, and even violence to silence dissenting voices. Perhaps the greatest injustice against minorities in a democracy is the denial of self-determination. Despite being citizens, they are rarely allowed to make decisions that affect their own communities. Calls for cultural or regional autonomy are dismissed as separatism, even when they stem from legitimate concerns. Indigenous land rights are often ignored in favor of economic development projects that benefit the majority, while minority protests against such policies are met with repression. Instead of allowing minority groups to control their own affairs, the state imposes rules and standards that force them to conform to the dominant group’s way of life. If democracy truly means equal rights and freedom for all, then most so-called democracies have failed their minorities. Rather than being free citizens, minorities are often controlled subjects, forced to abide by decisions they did not make and rules that do not represent their interests. True democracy cannot exist unless minorities have the same decision-making power as the majority, without political manipulation, legal discrimination, or cultural suppression. Until then, minorities in many democratic nations will continue to live as second-class citizens, struggling for the rights that should already be theirs.