Malaysian authorities release over 100 Rohingya refugees from detention

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian authorities have released more than 100 Rohingya Muslim asylum seekers who were detained earlier this week, with the group being sent to various locations across the country, a police official said on Wednesday (July 29).

Police had detained the people on Monday after they gathered outside the UNHCR office in Kuala Lumpur to seek assistance. The refugees claimed they had been evicted from their homes in Penang state.

A total of 109 Rohingya refugees were released from the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters following a review of their documentation, Kuala Lumpur police chief Fadil Marsus said in a statement.

He said the refugees were sent to various locations, designated by the UN refugee agency and non-governmental organisations, in Kuala Lumpur, and Selangor and Penang states.

"The destinations were selected based on contacts and relatives (of the refugees) living in those areas," Fadil said.

Authorities said the refugees who were detained all possessed valid UNHCR documentation, state news agency Bernama reported.

Muslim-majority Malaysia is not a signatory to the UN refugee convention and regards asylum seekers as illegal migrants, but is seen as a safe haven for Rohingya fleeing persecution in the largely Buddhist Myanmar.

Malaysia's foreign minister on Tuesday called for the country to reconsider whether to allow the UN refugee agency to operate domestically unless it imposes stricter controls on issuing refugee documents.

Rohingya refugees in Malaysia have been exposed to greater harassment and scrutiny in recent months after being targeted by online hate speech and misinformation.

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