Chittagong, Bangladesh: Bangladesh’s justice minister, Syed Anisul Haque, issued a circular on July 10th stating that Bangladesh would no longer permit marriages between Rohingya Muslims from Burma and Bangladeshi citizens. The minister claims that such marriages have the potential to cause social and cultural problems.
The circular orders marriage registration offices across Bangladesh to prevent Kazis (marriage registration officers) from conducting marriages between Burmese refugees—most of whom are Rohingya—and Bangladeshi citizens.
According to ICR Khan Md Abdul Mannan, legal action can be taken against Kazis that violate the circular; their licenses may be cancelled or they may be dismissed from their jobs altogether.
Human rights activist and jurist Shadeen Malik denounced the new rule as an unconstitutional infringement on the right of two consenting adults to get married—a right that is clearly set forth in various international human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights.
Justice Minister Syed Anisul Haque issued the circular because Rohingyas have been marrying Bangladeshis merely to obtain Bangladeshi citizenship, after which they proceed to obtain Bangladeshi passports and migrate to third countries where they commit crimes that ruin the reputation of Bangladesh, according to a government official.
Yet a Rohingya refugee leader from the Nayapara refugee camp, Aman Ullah, said that in reality “Rohingyas mostly want to marry within our community.” In addition, Rohim from Saudi Arabia contends that Rohingyas actually haven’t committed many crimes in foreign countries.
Lifestyle restrictions are nothing new for Rohingya Muslims, who are considered by the UN to be among the most persecuted minority groups in the world. Rohingyas are denied citizenship in Burma, and Burmese authorities have restricted the ability of Rohingyas to travel; marry; or find jobs without permission from the government.
Burma also prohibits Rohingya couples from living together unless they are married, and married Rohingya couples can’t have more than two children. Furthermore, bearing children out of wedlock is prohibited, according to a school teacher from Maungdaw known as Ahmedullah.
There are roughly 500,000 Rohingyas living in Bangladesh—most of whom are refugees from Burma. However, Bangladesh has only recognized 30,000 of these individuals as official refugees who are eligible for food, housing, and other assistance from the UN. Rohingyas from Burma have also fled to Thailand, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia, according to a refugee expert from Cox’s Bazar named Hamid Husson.
