Thailand Deports Dozens of Uyghurs to China Despite International Warnings
Thai Authorities Confirm Deportation of 40 Uyghurs Amid Human Rights Concerns
At least 40 Uyghurs have been deported from Thailand to China, authorities have confirmed, despite strong warnings from human rights groups about the potential risks of torture or even execution upon their return.
The group was reportedly flown to China's Xinjiang region on Thursday after spending a decade in detention in Bangkok. Their deportation marks the first such transfer by Thailand since 2015, raising alarm among international organizations and governments.
China stands accused of committing crimes against humanity and potentially genocide against the Uyghur population and other Muslim ethnic minorities in Xinjiang—allegations that Beijing denies.
Deportation Conducted in Secrecy
The process was carried out with little transparency, despite serious concerns voiced by the United States and the United Nations. Thai media reported that several vehicles, some with their windows covered with black plastic, departed from Bangkok’s main immigration detention center in the early hours of Thursday.
Shortly after, flight tracking data from Flightradar24 showed an unscheduled China Southern Airlines flight departing from Bangkok and later arriving in Xinjiang. The exact number of deportees remains unclear.
Thailand’s Defense Minister told Reuters that Beijing had assured the deportees would be "looked after." However, China has declined to confirm whether the individuals were Uyghurs, referring to them instead as "Chinese illegal immigrants." According to China’s foreign ministry, the deportation was conducted in compliance with international and domestic laws.
Chinese state media has claimed that the deported individuals were misled by criminal organizations and had illegally left China before becoming stranded in Thailand.
Lack of Confirmation from Thai Leadership
Thailand’s Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, did not immediately confirm the deportation when asked by reporters. She stated, "In any country in the world, actions must adhere to the principles of law, international processes, and human rights."
The group is believed to be the last of over 300 Uyghurs detained at the Thai border in 2014 while fleeing persecution in Xinjiang. While many were granted asylum in Turkey, others were forcibly repatriated to China in 2015, leading to widespread international condemnation.
Opposition lawmaker Kannavee Suebsang expressed outrage on social media, demanding accountability from the Thai government. "There must not be Uyghur deportation to face persecution. They were jailed for 11 years. We violated their human rights for too long," he wrote.
Reports indicate that the conditions in which these detainees were held were inhumane, with overcrowding and unsanitary environments. At least five Uyghurs reportedly died in custody over the years.
International Outrage and Condemnation
Human Rights Watch condemned the deportation, warning that the individuals now face a high risk of torture, enforced disappearance, or long-term imprisonment. The organization’s Asia director, Elaine Pearson, accused Thailand of breaching both domestic and international law.
"Until yesterday, senior Thai officials had made multiple public assurances that these men would not be transferred, including to allies and UN officials," Pearson stated.
Phil Robertson, director of the Asia Human Rights and Labour Advocates (AHRLA), said the deportation shattered any claims that Thailand's new administration differed from its predecessor in handling transnational repression and cooperation with authoritarian regimes.
Amnesty International also condemned the action, calling it "unimaginably cruel."
In the United States, bipartisan members of the House China Committee warned that Thailand’s actions violated international human rights norms to which the country is legally bound. The UN also expressed its deep regret over the deportation.
The Uyghur Population in Xinjiang
There are approximately 12 million Uyghurs, predominantly Muslim, residing in Xinjiang, also known as the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).
Uyghurs speak a language related to Turkish and share cultural and ethnic ties with Central Asian nations. However, they now constitute less than half of Xinjiang's population due to an influx of Han Chinese migrants, a movement allegedly orchestrated by Beijing to dilute the region’s ethnic composition.
China has been accused of suppressing Uyghur culture and religion, including targeting Muslim religious leaders, restricting religious practices, and demolishing mosques and historic sites.
With additional reporting by Thanyarat Doksone in Bangkok.
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