Thai authorities have confirmed that at least 40 Uyghurs were deported to China, raising serious concerns about their safety. Rights groups fear that these individuals could face torture or even death upon their return.
The Uyghurs were reportedly flown back to Xinjiang after spending a decade in a detention center in Bangkok. This is significant as it marks the first time since 2015 that Thailand has sent Uyghurs back to China, a nation accused of severe human rights violations against the Uyghur population and other Muslim ethnic groups.
The deportation process was conducted discreetly. On the morning of the deportation, several trucks left the immigration detention center, some with covered windows. Following this, a flight from Bangkok to Xinjiang was tracked by aviation services. The Thai government later explained that the decision to deport the Uyghurs was influenced by the fact that they had been detained for so long, and no other countries had volunteered to accept them.
Currently, eight Uyghurs remain in Thailand, five of whom are serving prison sentences for offenses committed while in detention. The Thai Prime Minister has indicated that assurances were given regarding the treatment of repatriated Uyghurs during her recent visit to China, although she initially did not confirm the deportations to the press.
China, for its part, referred to the deported individuals as illegal immigrants and denied that they were specifically Uyghurs. They claimed the process followed international laws and practices. Chinese media labeled the individuals as having been misled by criminal organizations.
The group of deported Uyghurs initially fled from Xinjiang in 2014. Many were sent to Turkey, while some were deported back to China in previous years, sparking protests from human rights advocates. Critics, including rights organizations and lawmakers, have condemned Thailand’s actions, arguing that it violates basic human rights. The conditions in the detention center were reportedly poor, with multiple deaths occurring while the Uyghurs were held without specific charges.
Human Rights Watch called the deportations a blatant violation of Thailand’s legal obligations, stating that the individuals now face serious risks in China. Opposition voices in Thailand have also raised alarms about the adverse implications of these actions, questioning the government’s stance on human rights.
In Xinjiang, home to approximately 12 million Uyghurs, the population faces increasing repression. This region has seen an influx of Han Chinese, believed to be influenced by state policies aimed at diluting Uyghur culture. The Chinese government has been criticized for targeting religious figures, banning religious practices, and demolishing mosques and cultural sites.
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