Because of unworthy treatment of Rohingya: Malaysia in the criticism
Despite serious human rights violations by the military junta in Myanmar, neighboring Malaysia is forcing refugees to return to their homeland.
The Malaysian authorities are sending Rohingya refugees back to Myanmar, putting many lives at risk. The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) criticized this on Tuesday in Geneva. The military took power in Myanmar in early February 2021. Since then, critics of the regime have been brutally persecuted.
Even before that, hundreds of thousands were members of the Muslim minority Rohingya from repression and persecution in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar, mainly to Bangladesh, but also to other countries.
torture and abuse
According to the human rights organization Amnesty International, in October alone Malaysia deported more than 150 refugees to Myanmar against their will and in consultation with the military regime. They faced persecution, arbitrary arrest, ill-treatment and torture.
According to international law, people seeking protection should not be deported to their home country if they are in danger, said a UNHCR spokeswoman in Geneva. The organization called on the Malaysian authorities to stop the practice immediately.
dpa/dtj