For Mohammad Ismail, the loss of his daughter is a daily, haunting reminder. Forcing Asma away from him and sending her back to Myanmar, the very place they fled to protect their lives. Asma and Ismail are Rohingya refugees. First, they lived as refugees in India for eight years, dreaming of a return to peace, security, and opportunity to contribute to the world. Their dreams, offering a slate of economic opportunity, quickly turned to despair. Asma and 39 other Rohingya refugees based in Delhi were summoned by Indian authorities under the pretext of biometric registration.
On the night of May 8, anonymous armed men broke into people’s homes and abducted Asma and others. This exacerbating and illegal measure contravened Indian legislation that forbids holding women post dusk. This incident has raised serious questions about the treatment of refugees in India and the implications of returning individuals to a nation accused of committing genocide against them.
The Rohingya Crisis
The Rohingya are a persecuted Muslim ethnic minority within Myanmar. They continue to endure systemic discrimination and, although there are 135 officially recognized ethnic groups in Myanmar, they are not considered citizens. This denial of citizenship has removed them from basic dignities and has led to systematic oppression. Hundreds of thousands have escaped Myanmar and found a precarious home in neighboring Bangladesh where they reside in cramped and grim refugee camps.
For Mohammad Ismail’s family, India held out hope for security. Their dreams were soon crushed when Indian officials asked them to come in and show proof of identity documents. The timing of these detentions sent shockwaves through the Rohingya community—being the first of its kind.
“We realized something was wrong because they have never done a medical check with biometrics before,” – John Anwar
For the Rohingya community now residing in Delhi, the community’s constant, fear-laden vigilance only underscores how very little separates them from safety. Thousands of families have been torn apart while escaping Myanmar. Ismail opened up about his anguish at being separated from his daughter.
“When we were running away from the genocide a lot of families got separated but I made sure we stuck together,” – Mohammad Ismail
A Dark Turn: Deportation Details
On that fateful night, Asma and her fellow asylum seekers were imprisoned. They were shepherded aboard a plane and then booked on a ferryboat. They were then reportedly approached by armed men who blindfolded them before forcing them into the Indian Ocean. Our boat ride between villages ended up taking three and a half hours. They missed their connecting flight and didn’t arrive to the southern Tanintharyi region of Myanmar until May 9.
When he eventually landed in Port Blair—the largest settlement in the remote Andaman Islands—Anwar said he couldn’t believe his eyes. The whereabouts to which these people have been taken is still not clear, making the situation even more dangerous and alarming.
“It was very far away from the land but they had tied a rope to a tree on the land. They told us to get into the water,” – Anwar
Ismail’s pain at the prospect of his daughter’s impending deportation comes right through the screen. Even more perplexing for him is how authorities would be able to separate them if deportation was indeed needed.
“How could they take my daughter from me? If they had to deport us, they should have deported us together,” – Mohammad Ismail
This incident has serious implications for the rule of law and the treatment of refugees in India.
Human Rights Concerns
The ongoing deportations have triggered protests from human rights advocates and international organizations. Tom Andrews, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, condemned India’s actions, calling them “outrageous.” In doing so, he highlighted their violations of human rights. They represent a grave challenge to the imminent safety and well-being of the most vulnerable among us, including the Rohingya.
“The idea that Rohingya refugees have been cast into the sea from naval vessels is nothing short of outrageous,” – Tom Andrews
He went on to characterize such measures as an attack on human decency. Returning refugees who have fled persecution and violence back to situations where their lives are once again endangered is extremely dangerous.
Within the Rohingya community, fears run deep. For years, thousands of people have testified that they don’t want to be stopped and arrested just for being Asian. David Sharif, whose five deported family members were removed with Asma.
“We are most worried because we are from a different ethnic group,” – Sharif
The plight of the Rohingya is emblematic of a growing crisis of refugees rights and treatment around the world.
