11 Rohingya kids to be released by Immigration today - activist group

Eleven Rohingya children, who have been purportedly detained by the Immigration Department since Wednesday, are expected to be returned to their parents later today, said a humanitarian group.

The European Rohingya Council's (ERC) ambassador to Malaysia, Tengku Emma Zuriana, said the good news came after the children, who are boys aged between nine and 16, were allegedly arrested during an early morning raid at a religious school in Langkawi, Kedah.

"I had just been informed by one of the parents that they received a call from the Home Ministry that their children would be released today.

"We will go to the ministry's office (in Alor Setar) after Friday prayers today. I will give more updates then," she said when contacted this morning.

Earlier, Malaysiakini was informed by Emma that the ERC was concerned for the boys' welfare following their arrests.

The incident had taken place, she claimed, even though the Immigration officers had been informed that ten of the children are holders of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) identity cards.

One other child is waiting for his UNHCR card application to be approved, Emma said.

"Authorities carried out the raid early in the morning, and asked the children to produce their identity cards. Of course, the cards are not in their hands, as a teacher was holding the document for the school students.

"But when they wanted to call their teacher, the Immigration officers did not allow them to. Another teacher, who was at the school during the raid, was also not allowed to retrieve his UNHCR card, and was detained together with the children," she told Malaysiakini this morning.

Emma said the children's parents had gone to the Langkawi Home Ministry office later that day, bringing with them their children's UNHCR cards.

However, she said, the Immigration officers had declined to release the children from custody. The parents were also not allowed to see them.

Emma said such arrests are among the various long-standing problems faced by refugees due to lack of protection for refugees' rights, especially for those who are underage.

Malaysiakini has contacted the Immigration Department's Putrajaya headquarters regarding the case and is awaiting their reply.  - Mkini