Thailand’s recent deportation of 40 Uyghur men to China has ignited widespread international condemnation, with the United Nations Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk, calling it a flagrant violation of international human rights laws. The deported individuals had been held in Thai immigration detention facilities for over 11 years, enduring dire conditions, with five deaths reported in custody.
Türk emphasised that the deportation breached the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to countries where they could face torture, ill-treatment, or other irreparable harm. “This violates the principle of non-refoulement for which there is a complete prohibition in cases where there is a real risk of torture, ill-treatment, or other irreparable harm upon their return,” he stated.
The principle of non-refoulement is enshrined in Article 3 of the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, to which Thailand is a party, as well as in Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Thai domestic legislation.
The detained Uyghurs were part of a larger group that has been confined to various Thai immigration detention centres since March 2014. Many have suffered under harsh conditions, with eight believed to remain in detention. Türk urged Thai authorities to ensure no further deportations occur and to protect the remaining group members, including potential refugees and asylum seekers, under international law.
Human rights organisations and international observers have echoed these concerns, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the whereabouts and treatment of the deported individuals in China. Türk called on Chinese authorities to disclose the men’s locations and to uphold international human rights standards.
The situation has underscored ongoing global concerns over China’s treatment of the Uyghur population, with allegations of mass detentions, forced labour, and severe human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region. The deportation has also raised critical questions about Thailand’s adherence to its international legal obligations and the protection of vulnerable individuals seeking asylum.
