HRW urges Thailand to halt deportation of two Uyghur men to China
Synopsis
Two Uyghur men detained in Thailand since 2014 face imminent deportation to China after the Chinese Embassy formally demanded their return. Human Rights Watch is calling on Thai PM Anutin Charnvirakul to let them travel to a safe third country instead — warning that past Thai deportations of Uyghurs led to enforced disappearances, and that UNHCR has been repeatedly blocked from determining the men’s refugee status.
Key Takeaways
Human Rights Watch has urged Thailand to halt the deportation of two Uyghur men to China , citing risks of torture and enforced disappearance.
The men have been detained in Thailand since 2014 ; one was arrested at age 14 .
On 21 October 2026 , they were transferred from Bangkok Central Prison to the Bangkok Immigration Detention Centre Suan Phlu after a royal pardon.
The Chinese Embassy in Bangkok formally demanded their return in August 2026 , according to Thai Foreign Ministry officials.
UNHCR has been repeatedly denied access to the men to assess their refugee status.
Thailand is bound by the UN Convention Against Torture and its own Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act , both of which prohibit deportation where torture risk exists.
Human Rights Watch (HRW), a US-based advocacy group, has urged Thailand not to forcibly return two Uyghur men to China, warning that they face grave risks of torture and enforced disappearance if deported. The two men, whose names have been withheld for security reasons, have been held in Thai detention since 2014 — with one of them arrested when he was just 14 years old.
From Prison to Immigration Detention
Following a royal pardon, Thai authorities on 21 October 2026 transferred the two men from Bangkok Central Prison to the Bangkok Immigration Detention Centre Suan Phlu, a move HRW characterised as apparent preparation for deportation. The two had been serving a seven-year prison sentence for offences linked to an escape attempt from immigration detention in January 2020.
Notably, Thai Foreign Ministry officials confirmed to a parliamentary committee that the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok had formally demanded the return of the two men as early as August 2026.
What HRW and Lawyers Are Saying
Elaine Pearson, Asia Director at Human Rights Watch, said, “Previous Thai governments have kept Uyghurs in inhumane detention for years and then complied with Beijing’s demands to send them to China, where they were forcibly disappeared.”
She added, “Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul should end forced returns to China and allow the two Uyghur men to travel to a safe third country.”
Lawyers representing the two men have informed Thai authorities that their clients do not wish to be deported to China. Under Thailand’s immigration law, however, individuals may be deported if they do not formally object — a process critics argue places an undue burden on detained individuals with limited legal access.
UNHCR Access Denied
HRW also flagged that Thai immigration authorities have repeatedly blocked the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) from meeting the two men to assess their refugee status — a step that could grant them international protection. The denial of UNHCR access has drawn particular concern from rights observers, who say it effectively forecloses a legal pathway to safety.
International Law Obligations
HRW cited the international law principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits the forcible return of any person to a place where they face a genuine risk of persecution, torture, or other serious human rights violations. According to HRW, Thailand is a party to the UN Convention Against Torture, which codifies this obligation. Thailand’s own Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act also prohibits deportation where there is a substantial risk of ill-treatment.
This comes amid a broader pattern: Thailand has previously deported Uyghur asylum seekers to China despite international protests, most notably in 2015, when over 100 Uyghurs were forcibly returned. Rights groups warn the current case risks repeating that precedent. The Thai government has not issued a public statement on the matter as of the time of this report.
Point of View
The government’s silence is itself a posture. The 2015 mass deportation of over 100 Uyghurs drew global condemnation and changed nothing; the question is whether a changed geopolitical environment — and sharper international scrutiny — will produce a different outcome this time.
NationPress
5 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Human Rights Watch urging Thailand not to deport the two Uyghur men?
HRW argues that the two men face a grave risk of torture and enforced disappearance if returned to China, citing the fate of previously deported Uyghurs. The group says Thailand is legally obligated under the UN Convention Against Torture and its own domestic law to refuse deportation where such risks exist.
How long have the two Uyghur men been detained in Thailand?
The two men have been in Thai detention since 2014, meaning they have been held for over a decade. One of them was only 14 years old at the time of his initial detention.
Why was UNHCR denied access to the two men?
Thai immigration authorities have repeatedly refused to allow the UNHCR to meet the men to determine their refugee status, according to HRW. This is significant because a formal refugee determination could provide legal protection against deportation under international law.
What does the principle of non-refoulement mean in this context?
Non-refoulement is an international law principle that bars any country from forcibly returning a person to a place where they face a genuine risk of persecution, torture, or other serious human rights violations. Thailand is bound by this principle both through the UN Convention Against Torture and its own Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act.
What has the Thai government said about the deportation?
Thai Foreign Ministry officials confirmed to a parliamentary committee that the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok demanded the return of the two men in August 2026. The Thai government has not issued a public statement on its intentions regarding the deportation as of the latest available reports.
