Save Uyghur Campaign Calls on Thailand to Abide by International Law and Not Deport Uyghurs to China

Washington, D.C. — February 25, 2025

For Immediate Release

Contact: Hena Zuberi

hena@justiceforall.org

(202) 922-5878

Justice For All’s Save Uyghur Campaign Calls on Thailand to Abide by International Law and Not Deport Uyghurs to China

Justice For All’s Save Uyghur Campaign is urgently calling on the Thai government to halt the deportation of 48 Uyghur asylum seekers to China, currently scheduled for February 27, 2025. This forced return would place these individuals in imminent danger and violate international human rights standards, including the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning refugees to a country where they face persecution.

The Save Uyghur Campaign recently received a distressing video from ‘Sidiq Qasim’, an Uyghur residing in Istanbul, Turkiye, whose nephew, ‘Abdullah Kerim’, has been detained in Thailand’s immigration facilities for over ten years. In the video, Qasim reports that Thai authorities plan to deport the 48 Uyghurs who have endured a decade of detention and mistreatment.

“History must not repeat itself,” warned Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid, President of Justice For All. “In 2015, the world watched in horror as 109 Uyghurs were forcibly sent back to China, where they faced brutal persecution. We cannot allow another tragedy to unfold under the world’s watch. Thailand must stop this unlawful deportation.”

The urgency of the situation is further underscored by the dire health conditions of 23 of the 48 detainees, who suffer from diabetes, kidney dysfunction, paralysis, skin diseases, gastrointestinal illnesses, and heart and lung conditions. These individuals require immediate and proper medical care—not deportation to a nation known for its egregious abuses against Uyghurs.

A recent Thai court ruling on February 18 found merit in a petition filed on behalf of 43 Uyghurs, questioning their prolonged detention. The court ordered the Immigration Bureau Commissioner or a representative to appear for questioning on March 27. Deporting them before this scheduled hearing would undermine judicial due process and further violate their fundamental rights.

“This deportation would be an outright betrayal of Thailand’s legal and moral obligations,” stated Arslan Hidayat, Team Lead of the Save Uyghur Campaign. “We urge the Thai government to halt this inhumane decision and call on governments, organizations, and individuals worldwide to apply maximum pressure. This is a moment for global action—we must stop this injustice.”

Justice For All’s Save Uyghur Campaign urges individuals and organizations to sign petitions, attend protests, and amplify the call on social media to prevent this deportation. The international community must stand together to ensure Thailand abides by its human rights commitments and does not hand these Uyghurs over to a government notorious for its genocide of the Uyghur people.