Amnesty International has urged the Indian government to halt what it describes as unlawful deportations of Rohingya refugees. The call from the rights organization came in response to reports accusing India of forcibly deporting Rohingyas across the border into Bangladesh. Amnesty International’s appeal has further spotlighted the ongoing plight of Rohingya asylum seekers in India.
Aakar Patel, Chairman of Amnesty International India, emphasized the need for an urgent, independent and transparent investigation into these deportation allegations. He further advocated for India to ratify the 1951 Refugee Convention and align domestic laws with international refugee protection standards. Despite hosting large numbers of refugees in the past, India’s current approach to Rohingya refugees reflects a shift in policy, as shown by its refusal to grant them official refugee status.
There are currently an estimated 40,000 Rohingya refugees residing in India, having fled persecution by the Myanmar government since 2017. The Supreme Court of India has dismissed pleas to halt deportations, maintaining that Rohingyas are classified as foreigners. The Indian government further claimed in its submission to the Supreme Court that it does not recognize UNHRC refugee cards held by Rohingyas and will continue to treat them under the Foreigners Act.
Although India is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, Amnesty International stresses that the principle of non-refoulement under customary international law obliges India to ensure individuals are not returned to where they face a serious threat of rights violations. To read more about this issue, visit the original report on JURIST.