UN special rapporteur demands answers over reported Rohingya expulsions in India

A UN human rights expert has strongly condemned reports that Indian authorities forcibly expelled Rohingya refugees by pushing them off a naval vessel into waters near Myanmar.

The incident, described as “unconscionable” and “unacceptable,” has prompted the expert to call for an investigation and demand full transparency from the Indian government, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

Tom Andrews, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, issued a statement on Thursday expressing outrage at the allegations. “The idea that Rohingya refugees have been cast into the sea from naval vessels is nothing short of outrageous,” he said. Andrews is actively seeking more information and witness accounts about the incident and urged India to provide a complete explanation of the events.

According to the report, last week Indian authorities detained dozens of Rohingya refugees in Delhi, many of whom possessed official refugee identification documents. Around 40 of them were reportedly blindfolded, transported by air to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands—Indian territories located in the Andaman Sea near Myanmar—and placed aboard an Indian naval ship.

Once at sea, the refugees were allegedly given life jackets and forced into the water, compelled to swim to an island controlled by Myanmar. This Southeast Asian country has a long history of oppressing the Rohingya minority. While it is believed the refugees survived the ordeal, their current whereabouts and conditions remain unknown.

Andrews voiced deep concern over what appears to be a blatant disregard for the safety and lives of vulnerable individuals in need of international protection. He described such actions as a violation of basic human decency and a serious breach of the principle of non-refoulement—a core principle of international law that forbids returning people to places where they face threats to their life or freedom.

In a related development, around 100 more Rohingya refugees were reportedly removed from a detention center in Assam, a northeastern Indian state, and relocated to a site near the Bangladesh border.

Calling on India to respond, Andrews urged the government to immediately and unequivocally condemn these acts against Rohingya refugees, halt all deportations to Myanmar, and hold accountable those responsible for these violations of India’s international legal obligations.

Refugees International reported that as of December, approximately 22,500 registered Rohingya refugees were residing in India. The organization highlights that the Rohingya are among the most marginalized and persecuted refugee groups in India, facing heightened difficulties partly due to the government’s Islamophobic rhetoric and policies.

The Rohingya, a Muslim minority from Myanmar’s Rakhine state, have endured severe oppression for years, including accusations of genocide by Myanmar authorities. Since 2017, more than one million Rohingya have fled to neighboring Bangladesh to escape violence and persecution.

By Tamilla Hasanova