Smokers have not experienced persecution. Please use this word more carefully or we dilute its meaning. The shaming of smokers has little in common with what Jews, homosexuals etc have had to endure. Smoking has not been made illegal, smokers are not imprisoned, smokers are not attacked and beaten up on streets. Smokers live in the same communities as non-smokers, are friends with non-smokers, study with no-smokers, work with non-smokers, date non-smokers, marry non-smokers.

The inconveniences and at times rudeness experienced by smokers doen't constitute anything that resembles persecution.