Justice For All Urges Turkiye to Halt Deportation of Uyghur Refugees to China

Washington, D.C. — March 13, 2025

For Immediate Release

Contact: Hena Zuberi

hena@justiceforall.org

(202) 922-5878

Justice For All’s Save Uyghur Campaign strongly condemns the Istanbul courts’ appalling decision to deport two Uyghur refugees, Mahemuti Anayeti (Mahmut Inayet) and Aierken Abuduwaili (Erkin Abduweli), to China, where they face near-certain persecution, imprisonment, and possible execution.

The recent ruling by the 16th and 18th Administrative Courts of Istanbul mirrors Thailand’s shameful deportation of 40 Uyghur men to Chinese-occupied East Turkistan on February 27, 2025, despite clear warnings that they would face imprisonment, torture, and possible execution.

The forced return of Uyghurs to China is a flagrant violation of international law, particularly the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to a country where they face persecution. China’s ongoing genocide, mass incarceration, and systematic repression of Uyghurs has been well-documented by the UN, EU, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch. Yet, Turkiye’s court has ruled that there is “no concrete material evidence” proving the two Uyghurs will face persecution, a decision that flies in the face of international findings and Turkiye’s own commitments.

Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid, President of Justice For All, stated: “Turkiye must not follow Thailand’s disgraceful path in betraying the Uyghur people. The decision to extradite Uyghurs to China is an unconscionable act that disregards international human rights law and places innocent lives at grave risk. The world is watching, and Turkiye must uphold its moral and legal commitments.”

Arslan Hidayat, Team Lead of the Save Uyghur Campaign, added: “The Turkish government has long positioned itself as a defender of the Uyghur cause. This court ruling is a direct contradiction to that stance and an alarming precedent for Uyghurs seeking refuge. We call on Turkiye’s leadership to immediately halt these deportations and fulfill its promise that no Uyghur will be sent back to face persecution”

Justice For All calls on the Turkish Constitutional Court to immediately annul the deportation orders and urges President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Turkish Parliament, and the Ministry of Justice to ensure the safety of Uyghur refugees. The international community must act now, as every Uyghur forcibly sent back to China faces near-certain detention, torture, and execution.