Thailand Faces International Pressure Over Potential Deportation of Uyghur Detainees to China

48 Uyghur men detained in Thailand since 2014 fear torture or worse if forcibly returned to China, as global outcry intensifies.

The 48 Uyghur detainees have been held in Thai detention centers for nearly 11 years after fleeing persecution in China's Xinjiang region.
UN experts and human rights groups warn that deporting the men to China would expose them to torture, imprisonment, or execution, violating international law on non-refoulement.
The detainees, some of whom are on hunger strike, report dire living conditions, inadequate medical care, and severe health issues, with five deaths already recorded during their detention.
China has increased pressure on Thailand to deport the Uyghurs as the two nations mark 50 years of diplomatic relations, while the US and other nations urge Thailand to release the men to a third country.
Thailand, which is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, has denied immediate deportation plans but faces scrutiny for its history of forced returns of refugees and asylum seekers.