Malaysia detains more than 100 Rohingya refugees and asylum seekers who gather outside the UN refugee agency office (UNHCR) in Kuala Lumpur to seek protection. Multiple outlets report that the group had fled displacement after being evicted from homes in Penang, in northern Malaysia, and then traveled to the capital to look for assistance from the UN agency.
Malaysian police carry out the detentions at or near the UNHCR premises. The detainees are described as Rohingya Muslims seeking shelter and related support. Channel NewsAsia also reports that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says the public gathering raised concerns and that people without proper permits would be detained by immigration authorities.
One outlet adds context that evictions and heightened scrutiny occur alongside a rise in online hate speech and misinformation targeting the Rohingya since May, which it says has contributed to increased harassment and attention from authorities. Across sources, the central points are the mass detention, the location and timing near UNHCR, and the claim that the refugees came after being forced out of their homes.
