In brief
Uyghur detainees in Thailand have initiated a hunger strike to resist imminent deportation to China, fearing torture. The Thai government asserts there are no plans for deportation, while the men have endured over a decade in detention.
In Bangkok, a group of Uyghur men, who fled from oppressive conditions in China over a decade ago, are currently in the second week of a hunger strike held at an immigration detention facility. This strike, which began on January 10, serves as a desperate call for the Thai government to stop what these detainees fear will be their impending deportation back to China, where they could face severe mistreatment, including torture and imprisonment.The Uyghurs, who have endured more than ten years of detention, initiated their hunger strike in response to being presented with “voluntary return” forms to fill out. These forms ignited a panic among the detainees, reminiscent of events from 2015, when Thailand forcibly deported 109 other Uyghurs to China after a similar situation.The Thai government, however, has publicly denied any intentions of deportation and claims that there is no ongoing hunger strike at the facility. Two detainees managed to communicate their plight to reporters and activists through clandestine voice messages. They revealed that their isolation is profound, with minimal access to the outside world, limited to direct contact during the monthly doctor visits.The situation highlights the perilous plight of Uyghurs, a Turkic-speaking Muslim group predominantly located in China’s Xinjiang region. Following a crackdown initiated by the Chinese government in 2014, the region has been under strict surveillance, resulting in the detainment of approximately one million Uyghurs and other ethnic Muslims in camps and prisons, in addition to aggressive measures affecting their families and cultural practices. The plight of these individuals in Thailand is a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle faced by many who seek refuge from persecution.
