Rohingya refugees in Malaysia face barriers to worship and belonging
Thousands of Muslim refugees from Myanmar registered in Kuala Lumpur report difficulty finding imams and facing detention fears, despite sharing a dominant faith with their hosts.
By Eric Collins ·
Nur Sadek studies law in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, while advocating for the Rohingya community that shares his Muslim faith. He fled Myanmar in 2017 after soldiers fired at his home in Rakhine State. Sadek now works with the Rohingya Rights Response to monitor the conditions of refugees in the Southeast Asian nation.
Approximately 126,000 Rohingya are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Malaysia as of February 2026. The country does not legally recognize refugees, a status that leaves many vulnerable to detention. While Malaysia is a Muslim-majority country, CSW, a religious freedom advocacy group, states that Rohingya refugees cannot officially register their own places of worship.
Most Rohingya pray at local mosques, but some avoid them due to fear of immigration checks. CSW noted in a statement to The Associated Press that religious solidarity is often overtaken by social and cultural differences. The group added that discrimination remains a factor for those seeking to practice their faith.
Nurul Hakim arrived in Kuala Lumpur in 2010 after traveling on foot, by car, and by boat through Thailand. He was the first of ten siblings to leave Myanmar. Although his family was not directly attacked, years of violence and discrimination made life difficult in Rakhine State. Authorities there have closed mosques and limited communal prayer, according to reports from the United Nations and Amnesty International.
Hakim feels welcomed by local faith leaders in Malaysia, but he hears from other Rohingya who face barriers. Sadek’s organization has documented restrictions on religious practices, including banners declaring Rohingya unwelcome outside some mosques. Sadek said that most Rohingya do not have their own imam leading prayers because the mosques are run by Malay imams.
Mohammed Rafique fled Myanmar in 2009 with his wife and five children, but the family stayed in Bangladesh while he moved to Malaysia. He has not seen them since. Rafique now prays mostly at home to avoid encountering immigration authorities. He collects scrap materials for a daily wage of 30 ringgit, or about $7.50, which he uses to pay for medication.
Rafique learned that his wife had died while he was in Malaysia, and he was unable to say goodbye. Sadek also lost his mother in Bangladesh and has not yet visited her grave. Sadek said he has wanted to visit her cemetery for a long time, and it has become a dream for him.
Zahidah Begum fled Myanmar in 2013 after her father, a village imam, was injured during a military raid. Her father broke his leg while escaping, and the injury later became infected, leading to his death in Bangladesh. Begum’s husband struggles with health problems, and her school-age children cannot attend formal classes in Malaysia.
Begum teaches her two daughters to pray and recite verses from the Quran, continuing the lessons her father taught her. She said she still feels the same connection to her faith that she felt back home. Sadek’s organization pushes for fair wages, access to healthcare, and education for the Rohingya community in Malaysia.
