Thailand returns Uyghurs seeking asylum in Türkiye to China

Thailand has deported at least 40 Uyghur Turks, who entered the country 10 years ago and sought asylum in Türkiye, back to China.

Many Uyghurs who had entered Thailand alongside this group were relocated to Türkiye in recent years. Human rights groups had warned that these individuals could face torture or death if returned to China.

The group, who had been held in a detention center in Bangkok for the past decade, is believed to have been flown to the Xinjiang region of China today. China’s policies toward Uyghurs have faced accusations of crimes against humanity, although Beijing denies these claims. Thailand had not deported any Uyghurs to China since 2015.

Due to criticism from the United States and the United Nations, the deportation process was carried out secretly. According to Thai media, early Thursday morning, the area around Bangkok’s immigrant detention center was surrounded by black tarps to prevent media coverage. Later, Flightradar24 showed an unscheduled flight by a China Southern Airlines plane, which flew from Bangkok to Xinjiang.

The Thai Ministry of Defense, speaking to Reuters, stated that they had received assurances from China that the deported individuals would not face mistreatment. Beijing, on the other hand, confirmed the return of 40 “illegal Chinese migrants” from Thailand, but did not specify whether they were Uyghurs. Chinese state media reported that these individuals were part of a group allegedly “led astray” by criminal organizations.

Uyghurs in Thailand

This group is believed to be the last of the 300 Uyghurs who were detained in 2014 while crossing the border from China into Thailand. Over 100 of those detained had been sent back to China in 2015.

Kannavee Suebsang, an opposition member of the Thai parliament, expressed outrage over the decision, reminding the public that these individuals had been held in detention for 10 years. “We have violated their human rights for such a long time,” she said. Despite not facing any criminal charges, except for entering the country without a visa, the Uyghurs were forced to endure overcrowded and unsanitary conditions in detention. During this period, five Uyghurs lost their lives while in custody.

International responses

Human Rights Watch issued a statement today warning that these individuals could face forced disappearances or long prison sentences upon their return to China. The organization’s Asia Director, Elaine Pearson, called the deportation a violation of international law. The United Nations also expressed “deep concern” over the deportation.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk expressed deep concern Thursday over Thailand’s deportation of 40 ethnic Uyghurs to China, calling it a violation of international human rights laws.

“This violates the principle of non-refoulement for which there is a complete prohibition in cases where there is a real risk of torture, ill-treatment, or other irreparable harm upon their return,” Turk said in a statement.

The deported men, who were part of a larger group, had been detained in Thailand since March 2014 under poor conditions in a number of immigration detention facilities.

Five people from the group have died in custody, while eight others remain in detention.

Turk criticized Thai authorities for failing to uphold their obligations under international law.

“My Office has urged, repeatedly, the Thai authorities to respect their obligations under international law in relation to these individuals in need of international protection,” he said. “It is deeply regrettable that they have been forcibly returned,” he stressed.

Turk also called on China to disclose the fate of the deported Uyghurs.

“It is now important for the Chinese authorities to disclose their whereabouts, and to ensure that they are treated in accordance with international human rights standards,” he said.

He further urged Thailand to halt any future deportations and guarantee protection for the remaining detainees, including potential refugees and asylum-seekers, in compliance with international law.

In recent years, the Chinese government’s treatment of Uyghurs has drawn significant international criticism.

The U.N. and various human rights organizations have reported that at least one million Uyghurs have been detained in so-called “re-education camps,” where they face forced labor, torture and cultural assimilation.

The Chinese government, however, claims that these camps are vocational training centers aimed at combating terrorism.