It's the standard "for me, but not for thee" argument that gets made when those who believe themselves the Chosen have to confront the reality that others exist and do not recognize (and may even actively resist) their Inherent Superiority. Anything that doesn't immediately give them what they want, the way they want it, and with a smile or a "we're not worthy" from their inferiors must be persecution, how dare they.

It's slippery if you think they're arguing from any other premise than "I'm Right, and what I want to do is Right and anything that stops me or denies me is Wrong."