Urgent Pleas to Thailand as 48 Uyghur Men Face Potential Deportation to China

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Relatives of 48 Uyghur men detained in Thailand have made heartfelt appeals to the Thai government, urging officials not to deport the men back to China. The detainees, who have been held for over a decade, fear imminent transfer despite a UN panel of experts calling for an immediate halt to any deportation plans, citing risks of torture and mistreatment upon their return.

The men fled from China between late 2013 and early 2014 as part of a mass exodus of Uyghurs seeking safety. They were arrested in Thailand along with others during a rescue operation for missing flight MH370. While some members of their group were subsequently resettled in Turkey, over 100 were sent back to China, drawing international condemnation. Currently, 43 of the detained men remain in legal limbo, while five serve sentences related to an escape attempt.

Some detainees recently went on hunger strike, rejecting requests to sign "voluntary return" documents, which has raised concerns about their health. The Thai government has denied plans for deportation, but pressure remains from relatives and human rights advocates who fear for the men's safety if returned to China, where they could face serious repression for their ethnic and cultural identity.

In a statement, Yusup, a relative of one of the detainees, emphasized the dire conditions and health risks facing the men, who continue to experience harsh treatment amid overcrowding and inadequate food. Concerns are heightened by Thailand's growing diplomatic ties with China, with relatives fearing the Uyghurs may be used as leverage in international relations.

Human rights organizations assert that sending these men back to China violates international principles against refoulement, prohibiting the return of individuals to countries where they may face persecution.

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