Rights organizations argue that the deported Uyghurs, facing persecution in China, are at severe risk of torture and imprisonment upon their return.
**Thailand's Controversial Deportation of Uyghurs Sparks Outrage from Human Rights Groups**
**Thailand's Controversial Deportation of Uyghurs Sparks Outrage from Human Rights Groups**
Thailand's recent repatriation of Uyghur detainees to China has drawn sharp criticism from activists who raise alarms about their safety.
The Thai government has recently made headlines for deporting 40 Uyghur men back to China, a move that has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights activists worldwide. Known for facing severe persecution as a Muslim minority, the Uyghurs had sought refuge in Thailand after fleeing China in 2014. The group intended to use Thailand as a transit hub en route to Turkey, where a significant Uyghur community exists. However, their journey took an unfortunate turn when they were detained in Bangkok for over a decade.
On Thursday, reports emerged confirming the deportation, following warnings from rights organizations that the repatriation was imminent. Witness accounts detailed the early morning departure of six trucks from an immigration detention center in Bangkok, accompanied by police vehicles, while a flight was tracked en route to Kashgar, the Uyghur homeland in Xinjiang.
Human Rights Watch openly criticized the Thai authorities for their actions, stating that the deportation violates international and domestic law, putting the deportees at risk of "torture, enforced disappearance, and long-term imprisonment." Julie Millsap from No Business With Genocide echoed these concerns, asserting that the deportations indicate a failure in international human rights standards.
Despite these allegations and concerns, the Thai police and foreign ministry have not provided comments regarding the situation. The Chinese state media reported the repatriation as compliant with laws but did not disclose specific details concerning the deportees' identities or further implications for their safety upon returning to China.
On Thursday, reports emerged confirming the deportation, following warnings from rights organizations that the repatriation was imminent. Witness accounts detailed the early morning departure of six trucks from an immigration detention center in Bangkok, accompanied by police vehicles, while a flight was tracked en route to Kashgar, the Uyghur homeland in Xinjiang.
Human Rights Watch openly criticized the Thai authorities for their actions, stating that the deportation violates international and domestic law, putting the deportees at risk of "torture, enforced disappearance, and long-term imprisonment." Julie Millsap from No Business With Genocide echoed these concerns, asserting that the deportations indicate a failure in international human rights standards.
Despite these allegations and concerns, the Thai police and foreign ministry have not provided comments regarding the situation. The Chinese state media reported the repatriation as compliant with laws but did not disclose specific details concerning the deportees' identities or further implications for their safety upon returning to China.
