India Deports Rohingya Activist Despite UN Plea, Raising Global Concerns
India has forcibly deported Rohingya human rights activist Mohammad Arfat to Bangladesh, disregarding a United Nations Human Rights Council directive for his release and protection, MaktoobMedia.com reported.
Arfat, held for over four years, was expelled under threat of violence, prompting condemnation from legal experts who deem it a violation of international law. The UN had urged India to collaborate with UNHCR for his resettlement due to his vulnerability and statelessness. Arfat, 31, had fled Myanmar after his father’s death and faced threats for exposing human trafficking. His 2020 arrest led to torture and a baseless conviction.
This deportation occurs amidst a dire humanitarian situation for Rohingya refugees globally. In May 2024, over 400 Rohingya are feared dead after two boat disasters in the Bay of Bengal, fleeing Bangladesh. The UN reported 427 presumed drownings as refugees, primarily from Myanmar’s Rakhine State, attempted perilous sea journeys.
These continued attempts highlight the desperate conditions in refugee camps and ongoing violence in Myanmar, where the Arakan Army faces accusations of abuses against the Rohingya. Rights groups are criticizing regional inaction and global neglect as the Rohingya continue to face persecution and statelessness following the 2017 genocide.
