Misinformation Targets Rohingya in India ^{CEFR B2}

Since 2017 Rohingya refugees who fled a military-led campaign in Myanmar have been targeted by growing anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim narratives in India. Misinformation that originates in Myanmar and Bangladesh often crosses borders; images and videos from refugee camps are reused to vilify a group that is stateless and predominantly Muslim. Indian fact-checking groups have repeatedly debunked false claims between 2017 and 2025.

An analysis of more than twenty fact-checked reports finds recurring patterns. High-profile false cases include a fabricated May 2018 viral video, a December 2018 photo claim that actually showed a Tibetan sky burial, summer 2019 child‑kidnap rumours that used unrelated arrest photos, and a May 2020 beating video from March 2019 in Bangladesh. The child-lifting rumours helped fuel over 30 mob lynching deaths across India between 2017 and 2019.

The misinformation often conflates "Bangladeshi" and "Rohingya" and repeats exaggerated figures, such as claims about 50 million illegal immigrants. Political and social forces have amplified these narratives: government statements labelling Rohingya illegal, the 2019 Citizenship Amendment Act (which excluded Muslims while offering citizenship to some persecuted minorities), pre-existing anti-Muslim sentiment and the rise of Hindu nationalist politics. During the COVID-19 pandemic, claims like "Corona jihad" further stoked attacks and discrimination. Because Rohingya have limited media access and no citizenship, they are digitally voiceless, which makes correcting falsehoods difficult; misinformation has resulted in detention, deportation and violence. The study cited by the author is published on ResearchGate.