Justice For All’s Save Uyghur Campaign Urges Thailand to Halt Deportation of Uyghur Asylum Seekers

Washington, D.C. — January 10, 2025

For Immediate Release

Contact: Hena Zuberi

hena@justiceforall.org

(202) 922-5878

Justice For All’s Save Uyghur Campaign is calling on the Thai government to immediately halt any potential plans to deport 48 Uyghur asylum seekers to China. This decision would endanger these individuals’ lives and contravenes international human rights standards. Justice For All’s Save Uyghur Campaign has also issued an urgent call to the government of Thailand through its missions in the U.S. and Canada, urging them to stop any impending deportation.

Recent reports from Uyghurs inside a Thai immigration detention center in Bangkok indicate that Thai authorities are coercing Uyghur detainees to give information by filling out forms for possible repatriation purposes. Originally presented as a voluntary action on January 8, 2025, pressure was increased on January 9, resulting in detainees engaging in a hunger strike. Additionally, it has been confirmed that their photos were taken and according to the detainees, verbal threats of deportation back to China by officials in the immigration center have increased, despite their asylum applications being accepted by the United Nations. This development greatly heightens the urgency and distress of the situation.

Justice For All President, Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid, warns of dire consequences: “History must not repeat itself. The international community and Thailand must ensure these asylum seekers are protected under the non-refoulement principle, which prohibits returning individuals to places where they are at risk of serious human rights violations. Their safety and rights must be prioritized”.

Despite their applications for refuge in third countries through the U.N., Thai authorities have obstructed their relocation to safety and restricted their access to foreign officials and human rights groups. These detainees initially fled persecution in Chinese-occupied East Turkistan, seeking sanctuary in Turkiye over a decade ago, only to find themselves detained under harsh conditions in Thailand since 2014.

Reflecting on past injustices, Arslan Hidayat, Team Lead of the Save Uyghur Campaign, said, “In 2015, the world watched in horror as 109 Uyghurs were forcibly returned to China and faced egregious human rights abuses. We urge Thailand to avert another such tragedy by adhering to international commitments and the non-refoulement principle.”

Recent reports highlight inadequate access to legal representation, poor contact with family members, and life-threatening detention conditions, with five detainee deaths reported thus far. Some current detainees, originally part of the 2014 group, were minors at the time of detention.

Justice For All appeals to the Thai government to comply with international human rights laws by safeguarding these individuals against refoulement, ensuring better detention conditions, and guaranteeing access to legal resources and family communication. Taking immediate corrective action is essential not only for their reasonable protection but also for reinforcing Thailand’s role in defending human rights.

Justice For All’s Save Uyghur Campaign is dedicated to promoting the rights and safety of Uyghurs, advocating for human dignity and freedom from persecution globally.