Malaysia detains over 100 Rohingya refugees seeking shelter at UNHCR
Malaysian authorities detained over 100 Rohingya refugees who gathered outside the UNHCR office in Kuala Lumpur to seek protection after being evicted from their homes. The Prime Minister warned that individuals without proper permits would face detention.
Why it matters
This highlights the growing tension and humanitarian challenges faced by Rohingya refugees in Malaysia amid rising xenophobia and online hate speech.
All of the refugees outside the UNHCR were taken away with their belongings in four police trucks at around 8.30pm. (Bernama pic)
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian authorities detained more than 100 Rohingya Muslim asylum seekers on Monday who had gathered outside the UN refugee agency in Kuala Lumpur, saying they were seeking protection after being evicted from their homes.
All of the refugees outside the UNHCR were taken away with their belongings in four police trucks at around 8.30pm local time, according to Reuters witnesses at the scene.
A police official, who declined to be identified, said they were being taken to police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur for further checks.
The refugees, who included women and children, said they were driven out of their homes by local residents in Penang on Sunday and had travelled to the Malaysian capital on buses overnight to seek assistance on resettlement from the UNHCR.
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