Thailand has secretly deported forty Uyghur men to China, a move that has drawn criticism from the United States and the United Nations. The men had fled China in 2014 and sought refuge in Thailand, where they were detained for over a decade. In the early hours of Thursday, the men were reportedly taken to an airport in Bangkok and put on a plane bound for China.
The United States had warned against the deportation, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemning the move and expressing concerns about the treatment of Uyghurs in China. China has been accused of human rights abuses against Uyghurs, including forced labor and mass surveillance, allegations that the Chinese government denies.
The deportation violates international law, according to the UN Human Rights Chief, who had urged Thai authorities to respect their obligations under international law. Thailand, which is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention, has a history of deporting refugees and dissidents.
This is not the first time Thailand has deported Uyghurs to China, as a similar incident occurred in 2015, sparking international outcry. The fate of the Uyghurs deported in 2015 remains unknown.
Thailand's Prime Minister confirmed that she was aware of the recent deportations and had discussed the matter with Chinese officials, who assured the safety of the Uyghurs upon their return to China.
