Thailand Faces Backlash Over Plans to Deport 48 Uyghurs to China

Thailand’s plans to deport 48 Uyghur men detained for over a decade to China have sparked global outrage, with rights groups, activists, and international organizations condemning the move. The detainees, imprisoned since 2014, face a high risk of persecution, including arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, and torture, if forcibly repatriated.

The detainees, held in Thai immigration facilities under what Human Rights Watch (HRW) described as “inhumane and degrading conditions,” have reportedly endured overcrowding, inadequate healthcare, and poor sanitation. These conditions have already claimed the lives of at least five detainees. Despite repeated calls for intervention from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and offers to resettle the detainees in third countries, Thailand has resisted, citing national security concerns.

In a letter dated January 10, 2025, the detainees expressed fears of persecution and execution if returned to China. As a desperate act of protest, they initiated a hunger strike, drawing international attention to their plight. Thailand’s stance on the issue has been criticized as a violation of its obligations under international law, including the Convention Against Torture, which the country has ratified. The principle of non-refoulement, a cornerstone of international refugee law, prohibits sending individuals to a country where they risk harm.

Dolkun Isa, President of the World Uyghur Congress, highlighted the urgency of the matter in a social media post, stating: “48 Uyghur refugees detained in Thailand for 11 years are at risk of being deported to China. Today, we joined the protest in front of the Thai Consulate in Munich, urging Thailand to stop these deportations. Uyghur lives are at risk—international law must be upheld!”

This isn’t the first instance of forced deportations by Thailand. In 2015, the Thai government sent over 100 Uyghurs to China despite international condemnation, setting a precedent that fuels fears for the current detainees. The origins of the crisis date back to March 2014, when Thai authorities detained approximately 220 Uyghurs in Songkhla province near the Malaysian border. While some were eventually allowed to travel to Türkiye, a country with strong cultural and linguistic ties to the Uyghur community, many others remain in detention under harsh conditions.

The Thai National Security Council has framed the issue as a matter of national security rather than a humanitarian crisis, effectively blocking access to refugee protection mechanisms. This stance has hampered efforts by the UNHCR and other stakeholders to provide durable solutions for the detainees.

Protests have erupted worldwide, with advocacy groups like the World Uyghurs Congress calling for immediate international intervention. These demonstrations underscore broader challenges surrounding refugee protection in Southeast Asia, where political expediency often trumps humanitarian considerations.

To better understand the Uyghur cause and the challenges they face, IJ-Reportika has conducted interviews with key figures advocating for Uyghur rights:

• An Insightful Interview with Rushan Abbas: Championing Uyghur Rights
• Interview with Abduweli Ayup (Project Manager at Uyghur Hjelp)
• Interview with Dolkun Isa (President of World Uyghur Congress)

The plight of these detainees serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need for coordinated international action to ensure refugee protection. Thailand must prioritize humanitarian obligations over political pressures to align its policies with international human rights standards.