Hope Emerges for 48 Uyghur Detainees Not to Be Deported to China

A hope emerges for the 48 Uyghur detainees not to be deported to China amid massive international pressure on the Thai government. “The government still adheres to the principle that no one will be sent back to danger,” said the Thai Deputy Prime Minister.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai reiterated on January 30, 2025, that the Thai government would adhere to human rights and international law when dealing with the 48 Uyghur refugees, amid calls from international organizations, including Human Rights Watch (HRW), the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), and Uyghur NGOs, to prevent their deportation to China.

Phumtham said that since the 48 Uyghurs had entered the kingdom unlawfully, Thailand also had to deal with them according to Thai law. “We must see what can be done. Most importantly, international law must be observed, and human rights must be taken into account. Don’t worry, the Thai government still adheres to the principle that no one will be sent back to danger,” he said.

Global Advocacy Intensifies

Since the possibility of deporting the 48 Uyghurs in Thailand to China emerged, international calls have been made against this issue. Key politicians such as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, international organizations like the IPAC, the UN Human Rights Commission, and HRW, as well as Uyghur NGOs such as the World Uyghur Congress, the Campaign for Uyghurs, and academics and activists concerned with the situation of Uyghurs, have made calls and carried out activities on the issue.

We, the Ilham Tohti Initiative, appreciate and thank all governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including diaspora Uyghur organizations, for their work regarding the 48 Uyghur detainees in Thailand, says Enver Can, a veteran international activist.

Call from Human Rights Watch

On 17 January, Human Rights Watch issued a statement urging Thailand not to deport the 48 Uyghur men to China. It warned that the group could face risks of enforced disappearance, long-term imprisonment, torture, and other severe mistreatment if Thailand forcibly returned them to China.

“The 48 Uyghurs who remain in detention have been held for more than 10 years, in squalid conditions with poor hygiene and inadequate medical care, under constant fear that they might also be transferred to Chinese custody. Five Uyghurs detained since 2014 have died in detention, including a newborn and a three-year-old.” Human Rights Watch stated.

UDTSB: extradition was removed from the Thai government’s agenda

A delegation of representatives from the Turkey-based International Union of East Turkestan NGOs (UDTSB) engaged in activities in Thailand, aiming to prevent the deportation of 48 Uyghurs to China and secure their transfer to a safe third country.

“During our approaches, it was confirmed that the possibility of extradition was removed from the Thai government’s agenda. On January 28, the Thai Senate discussed this issue, and developments led to the approval of the decision not to proceed with extradition,” UDTSB said in a statement.

According to a statement by UDTSB, on January 10, 48 Uyghur Turks who had begun a hunger strike decided to end it today, marking the 20th day of their protest, in response to recent developments.

IHH: The deportation to China has been halted

The Turkish non-governmental organization IHH is also carrying out efforts to prevent the deportation of Uyghurs in Thailand to China. Abdullah Altay, Head of the IHH Negotiation Commission, announced on his social media account X that the decision to deport Uyghurs to China has been halted.

In his statement, Altay said that they have been holding continuous meetings with various authorities, including the heads of parliaments, members of parliament, the Ministry of Defense, the National Security Council, the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“As a result, the Thai authorities have included the matter in the resolution process. The deportation to China has been halted, and now the process of sending 48 Uyghur Turks safely to a third country is underway,” he said.