Rohingya refugees face worship barriers in Malaysia
Despite living in a Muslim-majority country, many Rohingya in Malaysia struggle to register places of worship and fear detention while praying.
By Anthony Brooks ·
Roughly 126,000 Rohingya refugees are registered with the United Nations refugee agency in Malaysia as of February 2026. These individuals fled Myanmar following decades of persecution and a major military crackdown in 2017. While Malaysia is a Muslim-majority nation, the country does not legally recognize refugees. This status leaves many vulnerable to detention and complicates their ability to practice their faith.
Nur Sadek, a law student in Kuala Lumpur, was on track to become an Islamic scholar before he fled in 2017. Soldiers opened fire on his community in western Myanmar, and bullets struck the tin roof of his home. He ran with only the clothes on his back. Since then, he has worked to advocate for Rohingya rights. His organization, Rohingya Rights Response, has documented various restrictions on religious practices faced by refugees in the region.
CSW, a religious freedom advocacy group, stated that Rohingya refugees cannot officially register their own places of worship. Most pray at local mosques, but some face discrimination or avoid these locations for fear of immigration detention. The group noted that religious solidarity is often overtaken by social and cultural differences between Rohingya and local Muslims. Sadek said that most Rohingya do not have their own imam leading prayers because the mosques are run by Malay imams.
Nurul Hakim left Myanmar in 2010, the first of ten siblings to flee. He traveled for days by foot, car, and boat through Thailand to reach Kuala Lumpur. His family was not directly attacked, but years of violence and discrimination had made life difficult. While Hakim feels welcomed by local faith leaders now, he has heard from other Rohingya who have been barred from praying. Banners declaring that Rohingya are unwelcome have been displayed outside mosques in some neighborhoods.
Others avoid mosques entirely due to fear of detention. Mohammed Rafique fled in 2009 with his wife and five children. They stayed in Bangladesh while he continued to Malaysia. He has not seen them since. He now earns 30 ringgit, or $7.50, a day collecting scrap materials. This amount barely covers his medication. Rafique said the hardest moment he faced was learning his wife had died without him being able to say goodbye.
Zahidah Begum fled in 2013. Her father, a respected imam in their village, taught Islamic studies daily. During a raid, soldiers tried to arrest him. He broke his leg while escaping and later died from an infected injury in Bangladesh. Begum now teaches her two daughters to pray and recite Quran verses. Her husband struggles to work due to health problems, and her children cannot attend formal classes.
Sadek’s organization focuses on safety, fair wages, and access to healthcare and education. They have also documented harassment by social media content creators who mock Rohingya refugees. Begum said she does not know what the future holds for her family. She continues to pass on the religious lessons her father taught her to keep their connection to the faith alive.
Local authorities and advocacy groups continue to monitor the situation. Sadek and other advocates push for changes to improve the lives of the community. The number of registered refugees remains high as more seek refuge in the region.
