They Fled Persecution in Myanmar. In Muslim-Majority Malaysia, Rohingya Still Struggle to Belong
About 126,000 Rohingya are registered with UNHCR in Malaysia, where refugees say fear of detention and discrimination limit worship and daily life.
- As of February 2026, about 126,000 Rohingya were registered with the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, in Malaysia, a Muslim-majority country that does not legally recognize refugees, leaving them vulnerable to detention.
- Around 700,000 Rohingya escaped a military crackdown in Myanmar, yet many struggle to practice their faith in Malaysia, where some neighborhoods display banners declaring the refugees unwelcome outside local mosques.
- Zahidah Begum maintains her faith at home, teaching Quranic verses to her children to preserve connection to their roots, while Nurul Hakim finds local mosques welcoming despite broader community challenges.
- Advocate Nur Sadek co-founded Rohingya Rights Response to push for fair wages and healthcare, while refugees like Mohammed Rafique earn just 30 ringgit daily, barely enough for medication.
- The religious freedom advocacy group CSW stated that Rohingya refugees in Malaysia cannot officially register their own places of worship, creating systemic barriers to religious practice and community belonging.
24 Articles
24 Articles
They fled persecution in Myanmar. In Muslim-majority Malaysia, Rohingya still struggle to belong – WTOP News
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Nur Sadek was once on track to become an Islamic scholar. His mother dreamed of raising a son who would serve as a faith leader in their western Myanmar village. Sadek’s family belongs to the Rohingya ethnic minority. The predominantly Muslim group shares an area in Myanmar’s Rakhine State with...
The Toronto Star
They fled persecution in Myanmar. In Muslim-majority Malaysia, Rohingya still struggle to belong
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Nur Sadek was once on track to become an Islamic scholar. His mother dreamed of raising a son who would serve as a faith leader in their western Myanmar village.
They fled persecution in Myanmar. In Muslim-majority Malaysia, Rohingy
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Nur Sadek was once on track to become an Islamic scholar. His mother dreamed of raising a son who would serve as a faith leader in their western Myanmar village. Sadek’s family
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 57% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
