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WE, the undersigned organisations, are deeply concerned about the situation of stateless Rohingya refugee and human rights defender Zafar Ahmad Abdul Ghani, president of Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organisation, who has been vilified and has received death threats since April 2020 after he was falsely accused of demanding Malaysian citizenship and equal rights for the Rohingya in Malaysia during the Covid-19 pandemic.
There has been a systematic smear campaign targeting Zafar Ahmad, his family, and his organisation, including online petitions, open letters and press releases issued without verification that contain false, misleading, biased, and malicious information as part of the smear campaign, which not only implicates him and his family but also the refugees, in particular the Rohingya.
He has also received death threats and threats of physical violence through phone calls, SMS, WhatsApp messages, and various social media platforms.
Zafar Ahmad and his wife lodged a report at the Gombak police station in April 2020 based on the threats and harassment he received online, but two years on, there has been a lack of action by the authorities to either effectively investigate the threats against him or provide him protection.
They have lodged a total of seven reports of threats and harassment with the Malaysian police – they were not informed of the outcome of any of these reports.
These threats have had a serious impact on Zafar Ahmad’s health and wellbeing. Security concerns have prevented him from appearing in public for the past two years. It has also severely affected his family – the toll has been worsened by Zafar Ahmad’s lack of access to treatment and inability to maintain his livelihood.
On December 3, 2021 the United Nations’ special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, sent a joint communication to the Malaysian government seeking a response within 60 days, which the government failed to do.
As a member of the UN Human Rights Council, the government’s delay in responding to the communication raises concerns about its commitment to protect human rights defenders and uphold international human rights law and standards. The government finally responded on March 28, 2022, stating that following an investigation, the authorities have decided that no further action will be taken, which is extremely disappointing.
We are also extremely concerned that Zafar Ahmad has not received urgently needed protection from the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). Recognising Zafar is a registered refugee with the UNHCR and his situation as a human rights defender at risk, it is the obligation of the UNHCR to protect Zafar Ahmad when he faces threats to security and life following his peaceful and legitimate work as human rights defender.
Furthermore, the delay in the resettlement process only puts Zafar Ahmad’s life at risk and jeopardises his physical health, mental health, and well-being, including that of his family members.
The online attacks have not only been aimed against Zafar Ahmad but also against Rohingya refugees since the pandemic began, resulting in the escalating spread of xenophobia, hate speech, and subsequent human rights abuses and harassment against the Rohingya, refugees, and migrants.
In light of the concerns raised above, we make the following recommendations:
- The Malaysian government must take immediate measures to protect Zafar Ahmad and his family, reactivate the investigation into the threats and harassment against him covered in the multiple police reports, ensure that the investigation is thorough, and make public the results. Following this, perpetrators must also be brought to justice and held accountable.
- The UNHCR in Malaysia and headquarters in Geneva must prioritise Zafar Ahmad’s protection and resettlement to a third country without delay. As a human rights defender, Zafar Ahmad deserves greater and timely international protection and resettlement to a third country so that he can resume his normal life with his family and continue his advocacy work safely.
- Countries willing to resettle refugees must prioritise Zafar’s case for immediate resettlement in order to protect him so that he can resume his work and advocacy to protect the rights of refugees and asylum seekers.
- Mainstream media should deliver accurate information particularly involving the vulnerable refugee community in the country to prevent hate speech, xenophobia, and crimes against them.
- Social media platforms must take responsibility for smear campaigns, spreading false accusations, hate speech and xenophobia against Zafar Ahmad, the Rohingya, refugees, and migrants. – The Vibes, June 8, 2022
The above statement is signed by the following groups:
Tenaganita
ALTSEAN-Burma
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
Amnesty International Malaysia
Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM)
Arakan Institute for Peace and Human Rights (AiPAH)
Beyond Borders Malaysia
Bridges Faith Initiative
Building and Wood Workers International Asia Pacific
Burma Action Ireland
Burma Campaign UK
Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK
Campaign for a New Myanmar
Canadian Burmese Rohingya Organisation
Centre for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) Philippines
Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
Centro de estudios e Investigación sobre Mujeres CEIM
Crane Centre for Mass Atrocity Prevention
Fortify Rights
Free Burma Campaign (South Africa)
Free Rohingya Coalition
ILPS Commission 10
Info Birmanie
Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID)
Institute for Asian Democracy
Inter Pares
International Campaign for the Rohingya
International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL)
Karen Human Rights Group
KRuHA
KUBU
MAPMAS
Milk Tea Alliance Philippines
MilkTeaAlliance
Never Again Coalition
No Business With Genocide
Non Resident Tharu society
North South Initiative
Ohmsi Sdn Bhd
Pacific Foundation for the Advancement of Women
Parti MURBA
Parti Sosialis Malaysia
Penang Stop Human Trafficking Campaign.
Persatuan Kesedaran
Komuniti Selangor (EMPOWER)
Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor
Queer Riot
Reality of Aid - Asia Pacific
Rohingya Action Ireland
Rohingya Cultural Centre
Rohingya Human Rights Initiative
Save Malaysia Stop Lynas
Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)
Sedane Labour Resource Centre (LIPS)
Serikat Buruh Kerakyatan Kalimantan Barat
Signis Malaysia
Social Justice and BD Youth Development
Suaram
Thadou Chin Community
The Asia Foundation in Timor Leste
The Sound of Hope
U.S. Campaign for Burma
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA)
WITNESS
