Rohingya Children Face School Closure Amid Rising Hate in Malaysia
Teachers and community leaders said online hate and threats pushed closures, while Meta and TikTok removed most flagged posts.
- At least nine schools serving Rohingya refugees in Malaysia have shut nationwide, Reuters checks show, after online hate speech and misinformation targeting the community prompted authorities to enforce tougher controls.
- Fresh invective spread in May on social media platforms including Meta and TikTok, following hygiene concerns linked to a Muslim ritual. One Meta-owned Threads sub-topic was titled "Lempang Rohingya," or "Slap Rohingya" in Malay.
- Nur, a 12-year-old Rohingya refugee, stopped attending class after men threatened to beat her on her way to school. Activist Sharifah Shakirah said children are now afraid to leave their homes.
- Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said in June the government is "balancing national security with humanitarian values." Free speech advocacy group Article 19 countered that punitive measures are causing more harm than reducing harassment.
- Activist Sharifah warned school closures will worsen social problems including child marriage and vagrancy among Rohingya youth. About 120,000 refugees are registered with the United Nations in Malaysia, though not officially recognized.
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Rohingya schools in Malaysia face closures amid online surge in hate speech
Rohingya Children Face School Closure Amid Rising Hate in Malaysia
Nur, a 12-year-old Rohingya refugee in Malaysia, has stopped attending school after being threatened. Rights groups note that such threats, fueled by hate speech and misinformation, led to the closure of several refugee schools. Malaysia faces rising scrutiny over its treatment of the Rohingya community.
Fear and hate force Rohingya refugee schools to shut in Malaysia
Rohingya children in Malaysia are now afraid to attend school after receiving threats. At least nine refugee schools have shut nationwide due to safety concerns. Online hate speech and misinformation have fueled increased scrutiny of the Rohingya community. Authorities have closed some Rohingya businesses and schools operating without proper permits. This situation creates lasting trauma and worsens social problems for the refugee children.
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