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Refugees

Indian Authorities Expel Rohingya Refugees, Violating Human Rights

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Human Rights Watch has accused the Indian authorities of arbitrarily detaining and expelling scores of ethnic Rohingya refugees to Bangladesh and Myanmar without rights protections since May 2025. The expulsions, which have also involved mistreatment and intimidation, have been ongoing despite the refugees being registered with the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR). The actions of the Indian authorities reflect the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) policy to demonize Muslims as 'illegal' migrants, according to Human Rights Watch. The expulsions have left dozens of Rohingya refugees fleeing to Bangladesh to avoid the crackdown, with some being forced to swim ashore from a ship off the Myanmar coast.

Key Takeaways:

  • Human Rights Watch alleges that Indian authorities have expelled at least 192 Rohingya refugees to Bangladesh despite being registered with the UNHCR.
  • The authorities have arbitrarily detained several hundred more Rohingya refugees, with some being mistreated.
  • The Indian government's actions reflect the BJP's policy to demonize Muslims as 'illegal' migrants.
  • Human Rights Watch interviewed nine Rohingya men and women in the Cox's Bazar refugee camps in Bangladesh who had recently arrived from India.
  • Six of the Rohingya refugees alleged that they were assaulted by Indian authorities and had their money, mobile phones, and UNHCR registration cards seized.
  • An estimated 40,000 Rohingya live in India, with at least 20,000 of whom being registered with the UN refugee agency.
  • India is bound by the customary international law principle of nonrefoulement, which prohibits countries from returning or expelling people to places where they face threats to their lives or freedom.
  • The UN special rapporteur raised concerns about the widespread, arbitrary, and indefinite detention of refugees and asylum seekers, including Rohingya, in a letter to the Indian government in March.
  • Rohingya refugees had previously had access to education and livelihoods in India, but this policy changed in 2017 when the BJP government issued instructions for the deportation of 'illegal foreign nationals including Rohingyas.'

Statistics:

  • At least 192 Rohingya refugees have been expelled to Bangladesh by Indian authorities despite being registered with the UNHCR.
  • Several hundred Rohingya refugees have been arbitrarily detained by Indian authorities.
  • 40,000 Rohingya live in India, with at least 20,000 being registered with the UN refugee agency.
  • The UN special rapporteur has raised concerns about the detention of approximately 40,000 refugees and asylum seekers, including Rohingya, in India.
  • The next hearing on the status of the Rohingya in India's Supreme Court is scheduled for September 23.
  • The Indian Supreme Court has refused to halt the deportations and has called the account of Rohingya refugees being abandoned at sea a 'beautifully crafted story.'

Sources:

  • Human Rights Watch
  • The Indian government
  • The UN refugee agency (UNHCR)
  • The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
  • The UN special rapporteur
  • The Indian Supreme Court

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