{"id":62454,"date":"2022-04-20T02:55:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-20T06:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.worldcatholicnews.com\/hundreds-of-rohingya-escape-malaysia-detention-six-dead\/"},"modified":"2022-04-20T02:55:00","modified_gmt":"2022-04-20T06:55:00","slug":"hundreds-of-rohingya-escape-malaysia-detention-six-dead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.worldcatholicnews.com\/hundreds-of-rohingya-escape-malaysia-detention-six-dead\/","title":{"rendered":"Hundreds of Rohingya escape Malaysia detention, six dead"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Malaysia<\/h2>\n

Many Rohingya arrive in Malaysia by boat after enduring harrowing, months-long sea journeys\n<\/p>\n

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Rohingya refugees who escaped from a detention center are detained on the side of a highway in Penang, Malaysia, on April 20. (Photo: AFP\/Royal Malaysia Police)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Published: April 20, 2022 06:55 AM GMT<\/p>\n

Updated: April 20, 2022 07:01 AM GMT<\/strong>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Hundreds of Rohingya migrants from Myanmar today escaped a detention center in Malaysia after a riot broke out, with six killed on a highway as they fled, authorities said.<\/p>\n

Many Rohingya arrive in Malaysia by boat after enduring harrowing, months-long sea journeys. Those who are caught are often sent to detention centers, which rights groups say are typically overcrowded and filthy.<\/p>\n

A total of 528 people from the Muslim minority group fled a center in northern Kedah state at 4.30am, said Khairul Dzaimee Daud, the country’s immigration chief.<\/p>\n


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Many were recaptured quickly but 176 were still at large, according to police.<\/p>\n

After the riot erupted, the migrants broke through a door and barriers at the center, with the 23 guards on duty unable to bring the situation under control.<\/p>\n

Six of the detainees \u2014 two adult men, two adult women, one girl and one boy \u2014 were killed as they attempted to cross a highway after escaping, police said.<\/p>\n

The cause of the riot and breakout are under investigation, police said.<\/p>\n

Police, officers from other agencies and members of the public are hunting for the missing detainees.<\/p>\n

Relatively affluent, Muslim-majority Malaysia is a key destination for Rohingya fleeing persecution in their predominantly Buddhist homeland or refugee camps in Bangladesh.<\/p>\n

More than 100,000 Rohingya live on the margins of society in the country, working illegally in construction and other low-paid jobs.<\/p>\n

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