KUALA LUMPUR – Reflecting the agony that many bona fide refugees face in Malaysia, a Rohingya activist facing harassment and death threats is appealing for protection and resettlement.
Zafar Ahmad Abdul Ghani, who was driven out of Myanmar by violence, said he has waited for three years for a durable solution to his situation, including the opportunity to be relocated safely to a third country.
He expressed concern following the assassination of Mohib Ullah, a Rohingya activist, in the Cox’s Bazar refugee camp in Bangladesh, saying that the event has haunted him.
He said the murder would not have happened if Mohib had been resettled without delay.
“Living in trauma, confinement and depression for these three years is very painful. The reality is that I live in a prison that has no borders,” said Zafar, who is president of the Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organisation in Malaysia (Merhrom).
“I am an unwanted human being, a stateless person, a victim of torture, a stateless Rohingya refugee, a victim of fake news and a human rights defender at risk.
“However, this is not enough to qualify me for protection and resettlement to a third country despite receiving death threats, physical threats, defamation and constant harassment due to the false accusations.”
The Vibes had reported in 2021 that Zafar was falsely accused of demanding Malaysian citizenship and equal rights for the Rohingya in Malaysia.
Since then, he has reported that he and his family have been subjected to death threats, other forms of intimidation, defamation and harassment, causing them to endure trauma and depression while living in confinement.
“I lost my dignity, my life, my family, my friends, my livelihood, my freedom of movement, my voice and my advocacy work,” he said in a letter.
Human rights defenders targeted
He has urged the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to grant him resettlement as a durable solution to protect him and family.
He claimed that the refugee agency had denied him this with the reason that he did not meet the criteria.
“I wonder which criteria I do not meet? It is really painful to hear this from UNHCR Malaysia, which is supposed to protect refugees at risk, what more a human rights defender at risk.
“I’m a poor man, maybe this is why I don’t get consideration for resettlement? I’m exhausted from seeking refuge.
“Too exhausted to be a refugee without a state, without protection. Too exhausted waiting for long overdue resettlement.”
Zafar said that thousands of human rights defenders around the world have been killed and targeted in recent years due to the delay in protection by the relevant parties.
“I really hope UNHCR will do their part to protect me and resettle me without further delay. Don’t let hope remain hope.”
“You have no idea how it kills people when they become hopeless. Depression is a silent killer. If something bad happens to me, UNHCR needs to be held accountable for failing to protect me (in a) timely (manner),” he claimed.
He added that his children are having nightmares and are always in fear. “It damages us as an individual, as a family unit and as a member of society. Until now, the hate speech, xenophobia, threats and harassment continue,” he said.
Zafar said that concepts like human rights, protection, justice, accountability, freedom and peace should not be used just for rhetoric. – The Vibes, May 8, 2023
