Rohingya Community Urges Malaysia to Release Long-Detained Refugees

By: Camp Correspondent

May 18, 2025
The Rohingya community has issued an emotional and urgent appeal to the Malaysian government and international agencies, calling for the immediate release of hundreds of Rohingya refugees who have remained detained for years, some for over a decade, without any criminal charges.

In a public statement released on May 17, Rohingya activists highlighted the prolonged suffering and isolation faced by detainees, many of whom had fled genocide and persecution in Myanmar, only to find themselves trapped again, this time behind detention fences.

“These detainees are not strangers—they are our brothers and sisters, our mothers and fathers,” the statement reads.
“Some children haven’t seen their parents in years. There are mothers suffering daily with broken hearts,” one Rohingya man told Rohingya Khobor.

The appeal called on Rohingya leaders, the Malaysian government, and international organizations like UNHCR to act urgently and with compassion.

“How much longer must our Rohingya brothers and sisters remain in Malaysian detention centers?” the community asked, reflecting a growing sense of despair and abandonment.

Despite years of detention, most of the affected refugees remain stateless and without legal protection. Many were detained after arriving by boat or without valid documents—an outcome of forced displacement, not criminal intent.

“Their only ‘offense’ was trying to survive,” said one activist. “They fled genocide, and now they’re caged for it.”

The community emphasized that these detentions separate families, destroy mental health, and violate the very idea of humanitarian protection.

The call to action includes:

Releasing those held in long-term detention without trial
Ensuring access to legal aid, UNHCR registration, and resettlement pathways
Prioritizing family reunification and mental health support for detainees and their relatives