Two Uyghur men facing deportation from Thailand have warned they would face slavery and torture if sent back to China, activists said. One of the men told rights groups he would be “like a slave” upon return.
Thailand’s treatment of Uyghurs has drawn international attention since last year, when authorities forcibly deported 40 Uyghur men to China despite pleas from the men and the United Nations. The US and Canada reportedly offered to resettle them, but Bangkok appeared reluctant to upset Beijing. The UN has said the returnees’ whereabouts remain unknown.
Activists warn that deporting two more Uyghurs now would place their lives in grave danger. The ethnic minority, mostly Muslim, has faced widespread reports of torture and human rights abuses in China. The men in Thailand have sought asylum to avoid persecution.
The pressure on Thailand comes amid tighter ties between Bangkok and Beijing. Rights groups fear that Thailand’s security concerns and diplomatic relations will outweigh humanitarian appeals.
The men’s warnings echo broader concerns about the treatment of Uyghurs in China’s Xinjiang region, where reports of mass detention, forced labor, and surveillance have drawn condemnation worldwide.
This week’s developments follow a pattern of forced returns despite international protests. The UN and other entities have repeatedly urged countries not to send Uyghurs back to China, citing credible risks of torture and slavery.
Thailand has not publicly commented on the current cases. The fate of the two men remains uncertain as activists call on the government to halt deportations.
The issue continues to test Thailand’s stance on human rights amid geopolitical pressures.
According to The Guardian.
