Thai authorities are planning to deport 43 Uyghur men detained in Thailand for over a decade, sparking international alarm and fear of human rights abuses.
A group of Uyghur men detained in Thailand for over a decade say the Thai government is planning to deport them to China . This has sparked alarm among activists and family members who fear the men will face abuse and torture if returned. In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, 43 Uyghur men held in Bangkok pleaded for international intervention to prevent their deportation. They claim they could be imprisoned or even killed if sent back.
The Uyghurs are a Turkic, Muslim minority group native to China's Xinjiang region. China has been accused of carrying out a brutal crackdown on Uyghurs, including mass detention and alleged human rights abuses. Over 300 Uyghurs fleeing China were detained in Thailand in 2014. In 2015, Thailand deported 109 of these detainees to China against their will, prompting international condemnation. The remaining 53 Uyghurs have been stuck in Thai immigration detention ever since. Advocates and relatives describe harsh conditions in the detention center, alleging poor food, overcrowding, lack of sanitation, and restricted contact with the outside world. The Thai government's treatment of the Uyghurs may constitute a violation of international law, according to a February 2024 letter sent to Thailand by United Nations human rights experts. Thai officials have said they are doing their best to care for the detainees. However, recordings and chat logs obtained by the AP show that on January 8th, the Uyghur detainees were asked to sign voluntary deportation papers. This move caused panic among the detainees, as similar documents were presented to the Uyghurs deported to China in 2015. Three people, including a Thai lawmaker and two others in touch with Thai authorities, told the AP that there have been recent discussions within the government about deporting the Uyghurs to China. No formal directive has been issued yet. Two of the sources said Thai officials pushing for the deportations are doing so now because this year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China and because they believe backlash from Washington will be muted as the U.S. prepares for a presidential transition. The Thai and Chinese foreign ministries have not yet responded to requests for comment.
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