Jamaat Vice President Prof Salim Engineer urged the government to uphold its constitutional and international obligations toward refugees.
NEW DELHI -– Prof Salim Engineer, Vice President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), has strongly condemned the alleged inhumane deportation of Rohingya refugees by Indian authorities and expressed deep concern over the reported violations of international humanitarian law. He urged the government to uphold its constitutional and international obligations toward refugees.
In a statement, Prof. Salim said: “We express grave concern over the reported forcible deportation of 43 Rohingya refugees, including women, children, the elderly, and infirm, by Indian authorities. Credible reports indicate that the deported individuals were blindfolded, bound, and transported from New Delhi to Port Blair, only to be cast into international waters near the Myanmar coast on May 8, 2025. This was allegedly done under the false pretext of a transfer to a safe country. These refugees were left to swim ashore—back to the very country they had fled to escape genocide. If true, this constitutes a deeply disturbing and shameful violation of India’s constitutional and humanitarian commitments.”
Prof Salim emphasised India’s obligations under international law, stating: “We remind the government that India is a signatory to the UN Convention Against Torture, which explicitly prohibits refoulement—the return of individuals to a country where they face threats to life or freedom. The International Court of Justice has recognised the Rohingya as victims of genocide. Any deportation to Myanmar, under any guise, is a breach of international law and a grave moral failing.”
He also noted that many of the deported individuals were registered with the UNHCR and held valid refugee identification, which should have ensured their protection under international frameworks.
“Their forcible removal, despite possessing UNHCR refugee cards, shows a blatant disregard for international humanitarian standards and India’s historical role as a refuge for the persecuted. Deporting human beings like criminals—and placing their lives at risk at sea—is both inhumane and unacceptable,” he added.
Calling for immediate intervention, Prof. Salim urged the Indian government to halt all forced deportations of Rohingya refugees, initiate an independent investigation into the reported actions, and ensure accountability for any violations.
He also appealed to the Indian judiciary: “We urge the courts to take cognizance of any violations of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty and protects individuals from arbitrary deprivation of these rights.”
