More than 130 academics from various countries have signed a statement urging Thai authorities not to deport detained Uyghurs to China and emphasized the need to provide them with a safe haven.
Initially led by Dr. David Tobin, a faculty member at the University of Sheffield, a group of academics and researchers issued the statement on January 14, 2024, expressing their concerns over the safety of 48 Uyghur refugees detained in Thailand. By January 17, the statement had garnered the support of over 130 academics and researchers from different nations.
The researchers emphasized that deporting these individuals to China would subject them to severe persecution and urged Thailand to uphold its international obligations.
The statement, addressed to Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, stressed that Thailand must comply with international law by refraining from deporting the detainees to China and ensuring their safety.
The Uyghurs detained in Thai immigration centers have been held under harsh conditions since 2013 and 2014. It is reported that they face serious human rights violations if returned to China. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and international human rights organizations advocate for their safe resettlement in a third country.
This statement, call for mobilizing the international community, calls on Thailand to find a safe resolution to protect the lives of the Uyghur refugees without endangering them.
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