Thailand Deports 40 Uyghur Men to China Amid International Condemnation

International International News

Posted by NewAdmin on 2025-02-28 10:08:24 |

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Thailand has deported at least 40 Uyghur men to China after detaining them for over a decade. The men had appealed publicly to halt the deportation, fearing imprisonment and possible death. Despite warnings from international human rights groups and officials, the Thai government proceeded with the deportation. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, condemned the act as a violation of international human rights laws and urged China to disclose their whereabouts and ensure fair treatment. 

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also strongly criticized Thailand’s decision, calling it inconsistent with the country’s human rights commitments. He had previously pushed Thailand to prevent the deportation. The Thai government defended its actions, stating that China had assured them the men would not face penalties and that they had voluntarily agreed to return. However, reports indicate that security was tightened around the detention center before the deportation, and the men were secretly transported to Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport, where a China Southern Airlines flight took them to Xinjiang. 

The Chinese embassy confirmed the deportation, referring to the men as illegal migrants. Thai officials released images of the men arriving in China, undergoing health checks, and eating meals, though there were no photos of their departure from Thailand. 

The Uyghurs, a Turkic Muslim minority native to Xinjiang, have faced severe repression from the Chinese government, with reports of mass detention camps, forced labor, and human rights abuses. Thailand has faced criticism for its handling of Uyghur refugees since 2014 when it detained over 300 individuals. In 2015, Thailand forcibly deported 109 Uyghurs to China, sparking international condemnation. Others were sent to Turkey, while dozens remained in Thai detention under harsh conditions. 

The deportations resumed under Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, whose family has close ties to Chinese officials. Secret discussions about deporting the Uyghurs began after she met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Despite international pressure, Thailand proceeded with the deportation, raising concerns about human rights violations and the fate of those returned to China.

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