Amnesty slams India for forced Rohingya deportations
Amnesty International urges India to stop unlawful expulsions, investigate abuses, and recognize Rohingya as refugees
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — Ahead of World Refugee Day, Amnesty International has called on the Indian government to immediately stop the deportation of Rohingya refugees and to formally recognize them as refugees under international human rights law. The human rights watchdog condemned recent incidents in which Indian authorities allegedly abandoned refugees at sea and forcibly expelled others across the border into Bangladesh.
According to Amnesty, at least 40 Rohingya men, women, and children were recently deported by Indian authorities and forced into international waters near Myanmar. The group had been blindfolded, flown to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and loaded onto a naval ship before being given life jackets and forced into the water. Relatives later received a call from one refugee who had reached shore using a fisherman’s phone—but their current condition and whereabouts remain unknown.
In another instance, over 100 Rohingya refugees held at the Matia Transit Detention Centre in Assam were forcibly removed and pushed across the Bangladesh border, reportedly without any formal asylum procedure or legal review.
“These actions betray India’s long-standing tradition of offering sanctuary to persecuted people,” said Aakar Patel, chair of Amnesty International India. “Dumping refugees at sea and carrying out forced deportations without due process goes against India’s historical values and international obligations.”
Despite holding refugee cards issued by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Rohingya in India say they live in constant fear of being detained and deported. “We are treated like criminals,” one refugee told Amnesty. “Even though we have UNHCR documents, many of my friends and relatives have been taken away without warning.”
India’s Supreme Court has backed the government’s stance that it does not recognize UNHCR refugee cards or the refugee status of the Rohingya. Since India is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, the government argues that Rohingya fall under the Foreigners Act, which allows for detention and deportation.
However, Amnesty stressed that under the principle of non-refoulement—a cornerstone of international law—India is obligated not to return individuals to countries where they face serious threats to life or freedom. This obligation also stems from India’s commitment to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The Rohingya, a persecuted Muslim minority from Myanmar, have faced systematic violence since a military crackdown in 2017, with many fleeing to Bangladesh or seeking refuge in India. Conditions in refugee camps remain dire, with access to food, shelter, and medical care further limited by recent cuts to international aid.
Amnesty is urging the Indian government to halt all deportations, investigate recent cases, and align its refugee policy with global human rights standards. “On this World Refugee Day, we urge Prime Minister Modi to uphold India’s stated commitment to Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the belief that the world is one family—by treating the Rohingya with the dignity and protection they deserve,” said Patel.
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