Family of missing Rohingya footballer fear he is among 500 believed dead in Myanmar shipwrecks
After pressing send, 24-year-old Siraz Ullah boarded a boat he hoped could deliver him from the violence and persecution surrounding him at home in Myanmar.Instead, Siraz is among 500 Rohingya refugees who have vanished at sea after setting sail for Malaysia in late June.“Please pray for me and for all the passengers. We are risking our lives, but there is nothing else we can do,” he said in the voice message. “I can’t tolerate this life.”Siraz had hoped that in Malaysia he might be able to pursue his dream of playing football professionally.
- ▪After pressing send, 24-year-old Siraz Ullah boarded a boat he hoped could deliver him from the violence and persecution surrounding him at home in Myanmar.Instead, Siraz is among 500 Rohingya refugees who have vanished at sea after setting
- ▪We are risking our lives, but there is nothing else we can do,” he said in the voice message.
- ▪“I can’t tolerate this life.”Siraz had hoped that in Malaysia he might be able to pursue his dream of playing football professionally.
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Siraz Ullah, centre, clung on to a dream of being a professional football player.View image in fullscreenSiraz Ullah, centre, clung on to a dream of being a professional football player.Global developmentFamily of missing Rohingya footballer fear he is among 500 believed dead in Myanmar shipwrecks‘I can’t tolerate this life,’ said the 24-year-old in his last voice message to his relatives. Attacked by the military, a rebel army and criminal gangs, Siraz Ullah risked all for a better futureSupported byAbout this contentKaamil AhmedSat 25 Jul 2026 05.00 EDTLast modified on Sat 25 Jul 2026 05.02 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleThe fear was audible as he spoke, recording a message to his family, asking for their prayers.
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