started · updated
Rohingya school closures in Malaysia driven by online hate speech
A 12‑year‑old Rohingya refugee, Nur, stopped attending school after two men threatened to beat her, saying, “Why do you want to go to school? Do you want to take over our country?”. Her case is among many that have led to the shutdown of at least nine Rohingya refugee schools nationwide, according to Reuters checks. The closures follow a surge of online hate speech and misinformation targeting the Rohingya on Meta platforms and TikTok that began in May, along with a viral petition calling for the removal of Rohingya refugees that gathered almost 500,000 signatures before being taken down. Malaysia does not officially recognise the Rohingya as refugees, labeling them illegal migrants, although about 120,000 are registered with the United Nations refugee agency. Deputy Foreign Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni said Malaysians “have begun feeling burdened by issues arising from managing the Rohingya community”. The Home Affairs ministry did not comment on the school closures or the hate‑speech campaign. In a related incident, Malaysian police detained more than 100 Rohingya asylum seekers who had gathered outside the UNHCR office in Kuala Lumpur after being evicted from homes in Penang; Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim ordered “firm action” to maintain public peace.
Entities
Anwar Ibrahim (Prime Minister, Malaysia) · Lukanisman Awang Sauni · Lukanisman Awang Sauni (Deputy Foreign Minister, Malaysia) · Malaysia · Meta Platforms Inc · Nur · Nur (12‑year‑old Rohingya refugee) · Nur (Rohingya refugee) · Sharifah Shakirah · Sharifah Shakirah (Rohingya community activist) · UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) · United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 11 SOURCES] The threatening men told Nur, “Why do you want to go to school? Do you want to take over our country?” ca.news.yahoo.com · wsau.com · wtvbam.com · mix929.com · wdez.com · +6 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] Online hate speech targeting Rohingya spread on Meta platforms and TikTok in May. ca.news.yahoo.com · wsau.com · wtvbam.com · mix929.com · wdez.com · +10 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] At least nine Rohingya refugee schools have closed nationwide in Malaysia. ca.news.yahoo.com · wsau.com · wtvbam.com · mix929.com · wdez.com · +10 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] Deputy Foreign Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni said Malaysians feel burdened by issues arising from managing the Rohingya community. ca.news.yahoo.com · wsau.com · wtvbam.com · mix929.com · wdez.com · +10 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] A 12‑year‑old Rohingya refugee named Nur stopped attending school after being threatened with beatings. ca.news.yahoo.com · wsau.com · wtvbam.com · mix929.com · wdez.com · +10 more
- [● 11 SOURCES] Malaysia’s Home Affairs ministry did not respond to requests for comment on the school closures or the hate‑speech campaign. ca.news.yahoo.com · wsau.com · wtvbam.com · mix929.com · wdez.com · +6 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] A viral online petition urging the government to “remove” Rohingya refugees gathered nearly half a million signatures before being taken down. ca.news.yahoo.com · wsau.com · wtvbam.com · mix929.com · wdez.com · +10 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] Malaysia does not officially recognise Rohingya as refugees, branding them illegal migrants, though about 120,000 are registered with the United Nations refugee agency. ca.news.yahoo.com · wsau.com · wtvbam.com · mix929.com · wdez.com · +10 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] Malaysian authorities detained more than 100 Rohingya asylum seekers who gathered outside the UNHCR office in Kuala Lumpur. thediplomat.com · www.freemalaysiatoday.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim ordered police and immigration to take firm action against the Rohingya refugees gathering outside UNHCR. thediplomat.com · www.freemalaysiatoday.com