INCARCERATED
RELATIVES
Almost one in five camp households
(19 percent) has a family member
who is currently in jail or was
recently released. Seventy-two
percent of these detained family
members are in Myanmar, while most
others are in Bangladesh, Malaysia,
or Saudi Arabia (figure 17). The great
majority of incarcerated relatives are
males (figure 18). Communication
with imprisoned relatives is rare
(figure 19). Wealthier households
are more likely to report having an
incarcerated relative.28 Twenty-one
percent of Maungdaw respondents
have an incarcerated relative,
compared to 16 percent of those from
Buthitaung and 12 percent of those
from Rathedaung.
Sixty-four percent of camp residents
said their detained relatives had been
imprisoned for less than three years
as of late 2019, indicating that they
were arrested around the time of the
2017 violence. Many detained during
this time were given two- to three-year
sentences, and camp residents report
that releases accelerated in late 2019.
Incarceration of Rohingya in
Myanmar often occurs in relation
to mobility. In many cases, people
described being arrested on charges
of illegal travel after moving without
permission from authorities. As one
recently released prisoner explained
in an interview, “A group of us were on
a trip to Maungdaw from Buthidaung
to buy cows. We were arrested just for
moving.” Many interviewees also said
that their relatives had been arrested
by authorities arbitrarily, sometimes
with no clear reason provided.
Figure 17. Location of incarcerated relatives
<1%
China
11%
Bangladesh
5%
Saudi Arabia
72%
Myanmar
3%
1%
India
Thailand
7%
<1%
Malaysia
Indonesia
300 respondents provided information about 354 incarcerated relatives
Figure 18. Profile of detained relatives
RELATIONSHIP TO RESPONDENT
Brother or
brother-in-law
38%
PERCENTAGE OF CAMP HOUSEHOLDS
WITH DETAINED RELATIVES, BY HOME
TOWNSHIP OF THE HOUSEHOLD
24%
Son or son-in-law
Extended relative
12%
Male cousin
11%
Uncle
21%
Maungdaw
16%
Buthidaung
10%
Husband
4%
Father or
father-in-law
3%
Daughter or
daughter-in-law
2%
Sister or
sister-in-law
2%
12%
Rathedaung
AGE
YEARS DETAINED
57%
50%
45%
6%
Under
18
6%
18–34
35–54
55 or
older
23%
15%
<1
year
1–3
years
300 respondents provided information about 354 incarcerated relatives
20
3–5
years
17%
>5
years