IHRC is alarmed with the news of the Indian Government’s preparations to deport Rohingya refugees from Jammu-Kashmir.
Background
Action required
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Background
The persecution of Rohingyas has been ongoing for decades; however, since October 2016, there has been a considerable escalation of attacks. While it is continuing in parts of Myanmar, some of the worst humanitarian catastrophes have already occurred. It is estimated that more than 20,000 people were killed, and more than 1,000,000 Rohingyas have been displaced. The great majority of the Rohingya refugees live in Bangladesh, but India hosts around 40,000 Rohingya refugees living in camps and slums in cities and regions such as Jammu Kashmir, Hyderabad, Nuh and New Delhi. Around 5,000 Rohingya took refuge in Jammu-Kashmir after they fled the deadly persecution of Myanmar’s military in 2017.
According to the media reports, Indian security forces detained 168 Rohingyas refugees at the Hiranagar jail, 59km (36 miles) from Jammu, which was turned into a “holding centre” for Rohingya detainees. The move began last Saturday following a directive from the region’s home department. Indian official stated that they would deport the detained refugees to Myanmar that has been in turmoil and bloodbath due to the military coup began on the first of February.
Inspector-General Mukesh Singh stated that “All of them are illegally living here and we have begun identifying them…This process is to finally deport them to their country.”
However, Rohingyas are not illegal immigrants; they are refugees carrying UN refugee agency identity cards. Ravi Nair, a human rights lawyer in New Delhi, said that human rights lawyers are trying to stop the deportation of Rohingya:
“I need affidavits from them so that we will move the Supreme Court to stop detention and to free all those already in prison. They are not illegal migrants. They are refugees with valid UNHCR cards and, according to the memorandum of understanding between India and the UN refugee body, all urban refugees can be recognised as legal and these are urban refugees in Jammu.”
Action required
- Write to Mr Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to take necessary measures for preventing the deportation of the Rohingya.
- Forward any responses you receive to us on info@ihrc.org so we can develop this campaign further.
- Share this alert and the reports and resources, and encourage others to join this campaign.
- Please ensure you share verified stories and information. Despite this situation existing for decades, mainstream media has only given it importance now, often spreading unverified reports and cases.
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[Your name]
[Your address]
[Date]
For the attention of Mr Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Dear Mr Filippo Grandi,
I am extremely concerned with the news of the Indian Government’s preparations to deport Rohingya refugees from Jammu-Kashmir.
According to the media reports, Indian security forces detained 168 Rohingyas refugees at the Hiranagar jail, 59km (36 miles) from Jammu, which was turned into a “holding centre” for Rohingya detainees. The move began last Saturday following a directive from the region’s home department. Indian official stated that they would deport the detained refugees to Myanmar that has been in turmoil and bloodbath due to the military coup began on the first of February.
Inspector-General Mukesh Singh stated that “All of them are illegally living here and we have begun identifying them…This process is to finally deport them to their country.”
However, as you may well know, Rohingyas are not illegal immigrants; they are refugees carrying UN refugee agency identity cards.
I also urge you to make the necessary intervention to halt the deportation process of the Rohingya refugees in Kashmir. They are refugees with valid UNHCR cards and you should make every effort to protect them from their deportation to Myanmar, where they will face inevitable persecution.
Yours sincerely,
[Your signature]
Your name
Recipient contact information:
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