CFU PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 14, 2024, 2:30 PM
Contact: contact@campaignforuyghurs.org
+1 650-703-4523
www.campaignforuyghurs.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU) warns of a critical failure of the global refugee protection system as 48 Uyghur men detained in Thailand’s Immigration Detention Centers (IDC) since 2014 face imminent deportation to China. These men, detained for a decade under appalling conditions, are now at risk of being forcibly returned to a regime committing genocide under reported pressure from China linked to the 50th anniversary of Thai-Chinese relations and the change in government in the United States.
Despite years of international condemnation and an October 2023 recommendation from Thailand’s National Human Rights Commission to release and resettle the detainees, Thai authorities have failed to act. This group of refugees is part of an originally larger cohort of over 350 Uyghur men, women, and children, 172 of which were resettled to Turkiye, 109 deported back to China, and 5 passed away due to inadequate medical conditions. Their deportation would violate Thailand’s obligations under the Convention Against Torture and its own Anti-Torture Act. The Uyghurs, barred from legal or social contact and denied access to healthcare, have reportedly begun a hunger strike in protest.
The crisis highlights troubling trends in global refugee protection, with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) facing criticism for not fulfilling its mandate. Internal documents indicate that Thailand informally sought UNHCR’s assistance to resolve the detainees’ situation, but the agency hesitated, reportedly due to concerns over provoking China and risking funding. In February 2024, UN experts formally addressed a letter to the Thai government requesting clarity on the conditions and treatment of detained Uyghurs.
Rushan Abbas, Founder and Executive Director of CFU, stated “The deportation of these Uyghur refugees would be an unconscionable act, condemning them to genocide and unimaginable suffering. Such a decision would not only shatter Thailand’s commitments under international law but also represent a profound betrayal of fundamental human rights and dignity.”
Call to Action, CFU Urges:
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The Thai Government to halt deportation plans, grant UNHCR immediate access, and implement its own anti-torture laws.
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UNHCR to prioritize and leverage its mandate and engage actively with Thai authorities to facilitate resettlement for the detainees.
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The International Community to exert diplomatic pressure on Thailand, offer resettlement pathways, and hold China accountable for its transnational repression.
Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the Uyghur Congressional Caucus and Co-Chair of the Congressional Executive Commission on China, underscored the stakes in a statement, “It appears that Communist China is applying pressure upon the Thai government to force the repatriation of long-time Uyghur refugees and send them into the hands of the Chinese Communist Party to be incarcerated, tortured and cast away in forced labor camps as the U.S. implements its transition to a new government.”
Campaign for Uyghurs calls on the world to act decisively to protect these Uyghur refugees from being deported back to China where they would face an going genocide.
