KUALA LUMPUR – Rohingya refugee Zafar Ahmad Abdul Ghani is not the only one in his family facing death threats, as his wife and children are also victims of hate speech.
Speaking to The Vibes, the activist revealed that he has been continuously receiving anonymous calls and messages with threats to rape his wife and kidnap his children.
“They even said that they will identify my car and kill me,” said the Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organisation Malaysia president.
Reuters had on April 6 reported about the family’s plight, but Zafar said the threats still persist despite the article.
His problem began sometime in April last year, when the Malaysian government held a crackdown on undocumented foreigners – refugees included.
During that period, fake news involving Zafar surfaced on social media and went viral. There were, among others, allegations that he was seeking citizenship for his fellow Rohingya.
He has since strongly denied these claims.
Zafar said he came to Malaysia in 1992, after pursuing democratic rights and freedom for the Rohingya in Myanmar.
Unfortunately, he was identified and hunted down by Myanmar Intelligence, forcing him to flee to Bangladesh, before transiting through India and Thailand to reach Malaysia.
I did not come here for money, but to live a peaceful life where I am safe,” he said in an interview with The Vibes.
“Until now, I am thankful to Malaysia and its people for the protection given to me and the Rohingya.”
Zafar said now, all he wants is peace among people in Rakhine State, Myanmar, so that he can return there.
“The government should know that those of us here with a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) card are not asking for much.
“We are not asking for citizenship or permanent residence. Malaysia is neither our country nor our land.”
Given the constant threat to his life, Zafar has not come out of his house for almost 14 months and is suffering from depression.
He is urging UNHCR to fast-track his resettlement application due to safety concerns as his case is urgent.
He likened his case to 18-year-old Saudi Arabian woman Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, who, after receiving violent threats from her family for denouncing Islam, attempted to flee to Australia via Thailand.
While Rahaf has received UNHCR protection, a desperate Zafar hopes that he, too, will be accorded the same treatment.
“She (Rahaf) received threats from her parents, but what about someone like me, who has (received) numerous threats?”
He also urged relevant government authorities and agencies to work with UNHCR on the plight of the Rohingya, to ensure they can go back to a peaceful Myanmar or a safe third country.
No income, no meds
As Zafar suffers from depression, his wife, Maslina Abu Hassan, a Malaysian, depends on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for his medicine.
Prior to the threats, the family manned a food stall to make ends meet, but have since stopped once they were aware that random people were on the lookout for Zafar.
“I, myself, am too traumatised to go to our food stall now,” said Maslina.
“We cannot afford healthcare, so we depend on NGOs to provide medicine for Zafar.”
She said it is not only Zafar who is stuck at home, but also their children, as they have stopped schooling. She is worried that there will be no one to look after Zafar and the children if she returns to work.
“The only time I go out is for food and medicine.”
Maslina revealed that since receiving the threats, her husband has been behaving in a distant manner. He tends to be in his own world and rarely communicates, and when he does, he sometimes forgets words, she added.
She is also having a hard time trying to get him to take his medicine, as he may not be comfortable with the side effects.
“Zafar always asks me if the medicine is the solution to his security problem, as he insists the solution lies with UNHCR,” said Maslina.
According to her, the only thing preventing Zafar from committing suicide is his religion.
“In Islam, suicide is a sin. That is what is keeping my husband alive.”
Denounced by her fellow villagers
Citing a Malay Mail article, Maslina pointed out that UNHCR has resettled 88,500 refugees from 2008 up to this year.
She questioned whether those refugees were in a more vulnerable position than her husband.
“I beg UNHCR to please prioritise my husband’s case.
“Even though I am a local, I cannot guarantee his protection nor can I say the same about my government… UNHCR is his only protection.”
As if rape threats are not enough, Maslina is also facing backlash from the people in her hometown.
“The people in my kampung have targeted me for marrying a refugee,” she said.
“With all that is going on, sometimes I feel like I am not part of this country anymore.”
On Tuesday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said the government is reviewing its policy involving undocumented foreigners.
He had said local communities have complained of houses in their neighbourhoods being occupied by refugees, like the Rohingya, and overcrowded with families, whose members sometimes abuse drugs.
With regard to UNHCR refugees, Hamzah said a list of names has been requested from the international body to assist with the refugees’ vaccination in Malaysia.
However, UNHCR has set the condition that the information will be shared only if there is a guarantee the refugees will not be arrested.
Hamzah said those with UNHCR cards are still subject to local laws, and it is important that they live peacefully with Malaysians. – The Vibes, June 17, 2021
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