progoniti Englisch:

n the last few decades smokers have been feeling persecuted. Well, there's a lot of pressure for them to quit the habit.

To persecute is to treat someone badly or cause him to suffer, especially because of his race, religion, gender or national origin.

he was persecuted for his religious beliefs

Hilda was persecuted by some of the other girls’

In America coloured people used to be persecuted.