‘Treat us like Tibetan and Lankan refugees’: Rohingyas tell SC they have no terror links

Rohingya refugees in India file an affidavit in Supreme Court, reject Centre’s charges that they are associated with terror groups such as ISI/ISIS.

Refuting the Indian government’s claims of having terror links with the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Islamic State (IS) and being a threat to the country, a Rohingya refugee filed an affidavit in Supreme Court, asserting that they were refugees and should be treated on par with Tibetan and Sri Lankan ones.

A Rohingya Muslim woman stands by the entrance to her shanty at a camp for refugees in New Delhi on September 18. (AP Photo)

The affidavit, filed on Friday, rejected contentions of the government, saying: “No terror links with ISI/ISIS and no Rohingyas in India have indulged in anti-national activities and this assertion is not substantiated with any evidence by government.”

The refugee has relied on a statement by Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti in state assembly, which said: “No Rohingya has been found involved in militancy-related incidents. Seventeen FIRs have been registered against 38 Rohingyas for offences relating to illegal border crossing.”

Among the reasons the Rohingya refugees gave in their defence against their deportation to Myanmar, they clarify the distinction between refugees and immigrants – while refugees are individuals who have fled their country fearing persecution, immigrants are individual who voluntarily choose to move out of the country seeking employment opportunities.

Earlier this week, the Centre told SC many Rohingya refugees have links with IS and Pakistan’s spy agency ISI, posing a “serious security threat” to India. The government also said if allowed to stay, they would exhaust the natural resources meant for Indian citizens that could culminate in hostility towards them and lead to social tension.