Rohingya refugees face fierce new wave of hostility in Malaysia
Rohingya refugees in Malaysia are facing increased hostility, leading to the closure of community-run schools and the eviction of families. Local authorities and residents have expressed concerns that have resulted in crackdowns and a climate of fear for the stateless minority.
Why it matters
Highlights the deteriorating humanitarian situation for displaced populations and the impact of shifting public sentiment on minority rights.
Image source, Reuters Image caption, These women and their children were among Rohingya refugees evicted from their homes in Malaysia
Not long ago, Malaysia's then-prime minister urged his country to protect Rohingya Muslims - a stateless minority that has fled violence and discrimination in Myanmar for decades.
"We must defend them, not just because they are of the same faith, but [because] they are humans, their lives have value," Najib Razak said in 2017 .
Nine years on, a fierce new wave of hostility against the Rohingya is sweeping the nation.
So much so that "going to school has become a dangerous thing," says Irhan, a Rohingya refugee, who founded a school in northern Malaysia for children from his community aged six to 15. We have changed his name to protect his identity.
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