Authorities have shut down Rohingya-linked businesses and schools they say are operating illegally.
Refugees cannot legally work in Malaysia, and their children are barred from the national education system, leaving many dependent on schools run by non-government bodies or informal learning centres.
After Nur's experience, her teacher and the school's operator suspended classes indefinitely on safety concerns. Two nearby refugee schools also closed.
Rohingya children have been chased off public playgrounds, said the teacher, who founded the school in 2022 to offer young people a basic education to prepare for possible re-settlement elsewhere or a safe return home.
Himself a Rohingya refugee, he rejected accusations that the school was encouraging refugees to settle permanently in Malaysia or take jobs from locals.
"Many accuse us of breaking Malaysian laws," said the school founder, who sought anonymity for reasons of security. "For me, starting this school is one way I can teach others how to understand and obey the law."
Authorities closed a school in the northern state of Kedah this month for lacking proper permits after videos of its premises were posted online, said one of its teachers, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
At least nine schools teaching Rohingya children have closed for safety reasons or were shut by authorities after complaints on social media, said teachers and community leaders who declined to be interviewed, fearing repercussions.
Teachers at three schools still operating said they took precautions to avoid being targeted, including telling students not to wear uniforms and cancelling outdoor activities.
The longer-term impact of school closures will be to worsen social problems, such as child marriage among Rohingya girls and vagrancy, said activist Sharifah.
"Many people complain about Rohingya children begging for money on the streets," she added. "There will only be more of them if schools are closed."
Activists say the online campaign has revived questions over social media platforms' ability to curb hate speech and violent rhetoric.
Some posts flagged to Meta and TikTok were removed, Article 19 said, but much remained online. Meta removed seven of 10 items flagged to it by Reuters across Facebook, Instagram and Threads, while TikTok removed eight of 11.
Despite policies on harmful content, enforcement by the social media firms is inconsistent, Article 19's spokesperson said, adding that AI moderation tools often struggle with coded language, visual content and linguistic nuances.
Meta and TikTok use a combination of automated detection and human review to enforce policies against hate speech and conduct on their platforms. TikTok also has safety features reminding users to reconsider potentially harmful comments.
For now, the children denied classes have few options, with a tearful Nur telling Reuters, "If I don't go to school, I won't be able to learn anything, and I can't become anything."
META•
