[object Object]

Malaysian authorities detained more than 100 Rohingya Muslim asylum seekers on Tuesday evening. The group had gathered outside the UN refugee agency in Kuala Lumpur seeking protection after claiming they were evicted from their homes.

Witnesses reported that police trucks took the refugees, including women and children, away from the UNHCR office around 8:30 p.m. local time. An unidentified police official stated they were being transported to police headquarters for further checks.

The refugees told authorities they were forced from their homes by local residents in the northern state of Penang on Sunday. They traveled overnight to the capital by bus to seek help from the UNHCR regarding resettlement.

These evictions follow a period of increased online hate speech and misinformation directed at the Rohingya since May. This has led to greater harassment and scrutiny of the community, including school closures.

“

The gathering outside the UNHCR building had raised concerns from the public, and warned that anyone without proper permits would be detained by immigration authorities.