Indian authorities have come under fire for allegedly forcing dozens of Rohingya refugees into the sea near Myanmar. According to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, at least 40 refugees were detained in New Delhi and later thrown into the water by the Indian Navy. Some members of this group, including children, women, and seniors, reportedly struggled to find land.
Five Rohingya refugees confirmed that their families were among those detained on May 6. Dilawar Hussein, a lawyer for the refugees, has filed a petition with India’s top courts for their safe return. The Indian Navy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have not commented on the issue.
The UN has labeled the actions of the Indian authorities as “merciless and unacceptable,” urging India to avoid subjecting refugees to life-threatening scenarios. Tom Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar’s human rights situation, criticized the incident as a severe violation of international law.
Although India is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, it hosts an estimated 40,000 Rohingya refugees, many of whom live in dire conditions. Recent reports indicate that some refugees were detained under the pretext of collecting biometric data and have faced threats from nationalist groups in India.
The situation raises alarms amid recent legislation that critics argue discriminates against Muslim immigrants.
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