In brief
Dozens of Uyghur detainees in Thailand have initiated a hunger strike to resist what they fear may be imminent deportation to China, where they would face severe persecution, despite Thai authorities denying any plans for removal.
In Bangkok, dozens of Uyghur men, long detained in immigration centers after fleeing repression in China, have commenced a hunger strike as they approach the end of their second week without food. This drastic step began on January 10, following a series of events that raised alarm among the detainees, including being asked to fill out "voluntary return" forms, reminiscent of a previous incident in 2015 where 109 Uyghurs were deported back to China amid claims of mistreatment.The detainees are appealing to the Thai government to consider their plight, fearing that deportation would result in torture and imprisonment upon their return to China. Having been held in detention for over ten years, they have limited access to the outside world, primarily speaking to a doctor who visits them monthly.The activities of the Thai government have come under scrutiny, particularly following claims from the detainees that the authorities have instructed them to take photos, a procedure they associate with deportation threats. While Thai officials deny any plans to deport them, the fear remains palpable among those awaiting a resolution to their stateless predicament.Uyghurs, a Turkic-speaking Muslim minority from China's Xinjiang region, have suffered intensified scrutiny and repression since 2014, with credible reports indicating that as many as one million have been detained in internment camps. The Chinese government has implemented stringent controls in response to perceived separatist threats, exemplifying the dire situation faced by those escaping the region.
