Rohingya refugees in Malaysia face barriers to worship and community

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia. Approximately 126,000 Rohingya refugees are registered with the U.N. refugee agency in Malaysia as of February 2026. These individuals, who fled persecution in Myanmar, face challenges in a Muslim-majority country that does not legally recognize refugee status. The legal gap leaves them vulnerable to detention, while social factors complicate their daily lives and religious practices.

Nur Sadek, a law student and advocate in Kuala Lumpur, fled his home in western Myanmar in 2017. Soldiers opened fire on his community during a military crackdown, striking the tin roof of his house. He left with only the clothes on his back. Around 700,000 Rohingya escaped into neighboring Bangladesh that year, according to the U.N. refugee agency, known as UNHCR. Others sought refuge in India, Indonesia, and Thailand.

The Rohingya are a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority in Myanmar's Rakhine State. They share the region with Buddhist and Hindu populations. In Malaysia, the lack of legal standing creates specific hurdles for religious expression. The Center for the Study of Women in the Middle East and North Africa, a religious freedom advocacy group, stated that Rohingya cannot officially register their own places of worship. Most pray at local mosques, but some avoid them due to fears of immigration detention or discrimination.

Nurul Hakim arrived in Kuala Lumpur in 2010 after traveling on foot, by car, and by boat through Thailand. He was the first of ten siblings to leave Myanmar. While he can now pray freely, he noted that many Rohingya in other parts of Malaysia face restrictions. Banners declaring Rohingya unwelcome have been displayed outside mosques in some neighborhoods. Sadek, who co-founded the Rohingya Rights Response organization, documented that local Malay imams typically lead prayers, meaning Rohingya do not have their own religious leaders.

Fear of detention affects some more deeply. Mohammed Rafique fled Myanmar in 2009 with his wife and five children, who remained in Bangladesh. He has not seen them since. Rafique now prays mostly at home to avoid encountering immigration authorities. He earns 30 ringgit, about $7.50, a day collecting scrap materials. He learned of his wife's death from a distance and was unable to attend her burial.

Zahidah Begum fled in 2013 after her father, a village imam, broke his leg while escaping a raid. He later died from an infection in Bangladesh because he could not receive medical treatment. Begum now teaches her two daughters to pray and recite the Quran. Her children cannot attend formal classes, and her husband struggles to work due to health problems.

Sadek's organization advocates for fair wages, healthcare access, and education. They also document harassment by social media content creators who mock Rohingya refugees. Begum said she feels a strong connection to her faith despite the distance from home. Sadek, who lost his mother in Bangladesh, said he has not yet visited her grave.