Rohingya and Extremist Group Recruitment

Based on available information, there is evidence that terrorist groups like the Islamic State (ISIS) have attempted to recruit from the Rohingya community, exploiting their statelessness and persecution. However, this recruitment appears to be opportunistic and limited, rather than indicating a widespread alignment. The Taliban's role is different, focused on governing Afghanistan rather than actively recruiting Rohingya.

Extremist Group Involvement with Rohingya

Group	Nature of Involvement with Rohingya	Key Details
Islamic State (ISIS)	Active Recruitment Efforts	Exploits persecution narrative; attempts to recruit in refugee camps and diaspora communities in Malaysia and Indonesia.
Al-Qaeda	Rhetorical Support	Issued statements condemning the persecution but limited evidence of operational recruitment.
Taliban	No Evidence of Direct Recruitment	Focus is internal on Afghanistan; not linked to recruiting Rohingya.

Context and Key Groups

Understanding the dynamics requires looking at the specific actors involved:

The Rohingya's Plight

The Rohingya are a Muslim ethnic group denied citizenship by Myanmar, facing severe persecution that has forced nearly a million into refugee camps in Bangladesh. This marginalization makes them vulnerable to groups offering a sense of purpose or community.

ARSA - The Local Insurgent Group

The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) is a Rohingya insurgent group that operates in Myanmar's Rakhine State. While it fights against the Myanmar government, it has consistently denied links to transnational jihadist groups like ISIS or Al-Qaeda. Its goals are focused locally on Rakhine State, not a global jihad.

Assessment of the Recruitment Threat

The search results suggest the recruitment threat is real but should be viewed with nuance:

The Primary Threat is from ISIS

Experts and intelligence reports indicate that ISIS has actively tried to recruit Rohingya. They use the Rohingya crisis as a propaganda tool to evoke sympathy and lure individuals by offering a sense of belonging and a chance to fight back against their oppressors. There have been arrests of radicalized Rohingya individuals in Malaysia who had pledged allegiance to ISIS.

Radicalization is Not Widespread

Despite the vulnerability, the Rohingya community has traditionally been religiously moderate. Analysts note a "culture of submissiveness" due to trauma and a recognition that engaging in terrorism would be detrimental to their cause and the safety of their diaspora communities. One official described the situation as: "The ecosystem is there, the trigger is not."