Rohingya Crisis in Aceh Indonesia:
The Failure of the Muslim Unity

News:

In early December, Rohingya refugees faced hostility in Aceh, Indonesia, as locals protested their arrival. Once a haven for Rohingya, sentiments have shifted, with online disinformation exacerbating tensions.

Professionally-made content and bots spread anti-Rohingya narratives, portraying them as ungrateful and burdensome. A December incident, triggered by online misinformation, saw a mob forcibly relocate 137 refugees. Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram were used to disseminate false claims, leading to online threats against UNHCR staff. Human Rights Watch called for an investigation, emphasizing the need to combat hate speech. The current hostility, unprecedented since 2009, underscores the challenging environment for Rohingya refugees in Aceh. (Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/18/the-online-hate-campaign-turning-indonesians-against-rohingya-refugees).

Comment:

The Rohingya predicament persists, encompassing not only their forced expulsion and the atrocities in their country of origin, Myanmar, but also their enduring hardships in refugee camps. In Bangladesh, they endure inadequate treatment, confronting diverse forms of intimidation and abuse. Some seek sanctuary in alternative locations, such as Indonesia, drawn by its reputation as a hospitable environment with amiable and inclusive citizens for refugees.

Regrettably, a considerable number of these refugees fall victim to illicit transactions, becoming prey to human traffickers in their quest to reach Indonesia. Upon arrival, they are confronted with arduous conditions, exacerbated by the proliferation of negative propaganda against them through social media.

The plight of our Rohingya Muslim brethren is undeniably distressing, as they merely seek assistance, yet certain fellow Muslims contribute to their suffering by turning them away. Nevertheless, the Quran and Sunnah underscore the imperative for Muslims to stand as brothers and sisters, offering support and fortification to one another.

The Rohingya Muslim issue not only underscores the vulnerability of Muslim nations in the face of oppressors but also signifies that secularism and nationalism serve as impediments preventing Muslim unity, fostering divisions orchestrated by adversaries of Islam.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Abdullah Aswar