Rohingya refugees struggle to practice their faith and find acceptance in Malaysia

Associated Press · Maria Teresa Hernández · 2026-11-06 01:04 UTC

Rohingya Muslim refugees who fled persecution in Myanmar face new challenges in Malaysia, a Muslim-majority country that does not legally recognize refugees. Some face discrimination at local mosques, while others avoid them for fear of immigration detention. Many also struggle with limited access to education, healthcare and employment, as well as family separation and loss. Refugee advocates seek better protections while families work to preserve their faith and pass religious traditions on to younger generations.

They fled persecution in Myanmar. In Muslim-majority Malaysia, Rohingya still struggle to belong

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Nur Sadek was once on track to become an Islamic scholar. His mother dreamed of raising a son who would serve as a faith leader in their western Myanmar village.

Sadek’s family belongs to the Rohingya ethnic minority. The predominantly Muslim group shares an area in Myanmar’s Rakhine State with Buddhists and a smaller Hindu population. Ethnic and religious divisions have long shaped the region’s history.

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