Thai Uyghur Detainees Face Looming Deportation to China, Sparking Global Outcry

Forty-three Uyghur men detained in Thailand for over a decade are facing the threat of deportation to China, sparking alarm among activists and families who fear they could be subjected to abuse and torture upon their return.

The detainees, held in Bangkok immigration centers, issued a public appeal in a letter obtained by the Associated Press, urging international intervention to prevent their deportation. “We could be imprisoned, and we might even lose our lives,” the letter read.

The Uyghurs, a Turkic, Muslim-majority ethnic group native to China’s Xinjiang region, have long faced persecution and cultural suppression. Beijing’s crackdown, labeled as genocide by some Western governments, has seen over a million Uyghurs detained in camps where reports of abuse, disease, and deaths have emerged.

In 2014, Thai authorities detained more than 300 Uyghurs fleeing China. While 173 women and children were sent to Turkey in 2015, 109 men were forcibly deported to China, triggering international outcry. The remaining detainees have been in Thai custody since, with five dying in detention due to poor conditions.

Rights groups and relatives have decried the treatment of detainees, describing overcrowded cells, inadequate food, and lack of access to hygiene or legal assistance. The United Nations human rights experts have called the prolonged detention and poor conditions a potential violation of international law.

Reports indicate that on January 8, Thai immigration officials asked the Uyghurs to sign voluntary deportation documents, reminiscent of the 2015 deportation process. The detainees refused, fearing the dire consequences of being sent back to China.

Activists have linked the push for deportation to the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Thailand and China, suggesting that Thai officials aim to strengthen relations with Beijing. Critics also speculate muted opposition from Washington amid the U.S. presidential transition.

Peter Irwin, Associate Director for Research and Advocacy at the Uyghur Human Rights Project, emphasized the detainees’ rights under international law. “There’s no evidence that the 43 Uyghurs have committed any crime. They have a clear right not to be deported,” he said.

Despite asylum applications submitted to the UNHCR, the Thai government has blocked access to the detainees. Relatives of those detained expressed anguish over their uncertain fate.

“We live in constant fear,” said Bilal Ablet, whose brother is among the detainees. “World governments know about this but seem unwilling to act due to pressure from China.”

Advocates have also pointed out that other countries have expressed willingness to resettle the Uyghurs, contradicting claims that no alternatives exist.

The Thai government has yet to respond to growing calls from international human rights groups to ensure the safety and rights of the detained Uyghurs.