Arakan News Agency | Exclusive
Rohingya refugees in camps across Bangladesh issued an urgent humanitarian appeal on Tuesday, calling on the Malaysian government to immediately release Rohingya men, women, and children being held in detention centers, stressing that they are victims of persecution, not criminals.
Community leaders noted that the refugees fled Myanmar to escape decades of systematic discrimination and violence, adding that many risked their lives crossing dangerous seas in search of safety and dignity. They pointed out that detainees are enduring harsh conditions in overcrowded facilities, facing deep uncertainty about their future.
The statement called on the Government of Malaysia, the United Nations, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and the international community to take swift action to secure the release and protection of the detainees. It concluded by stating, “The Rohingya people have already endured immense suffering. Freedom is their right. Silence is not an option.”
Human rights organizations have repeatedly raised concerns over the treatment of Rohingya in Malaysia, where hundreds of refugees are reportedly detained on immigration-related charges. They assert that prolonged detention without access to legal protection or humanitarian aid constitutes a violation of international human rights standards.
Bangladesh currently hosts approximately 1.3 million Rohingya refugees in the Cox’s Bazar camps, which the United Nations describes as the world’s largest refugee settlement. The refugees have been living under dire humanitarian conditions since fleeing Myanmar in 2017, following the military’s genocidal campaign against them.
Renewed waves of displacement to Bangladesh have continued since November 2023, when fresh fighting erupted in Arakan State between the Myanmar military and Buddhist Arakanese militias (the Arakan Army).
