New York, Nov 13 (NationPress) Human Rights Watch (HRW), a US-based advocacy organization, has claimed that the Turkish government is increasingly imposing restrictions on the legal residency of Uyghurs in Turkey who are fleeing persecution from the Chinese authorities.

The advocacy group alleges that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s regime has detained numerous Uyghurs under harsh and degrading conditions, coercing them to sign forms for voluntary return, which exposes them to the risk of deportation to countries with extradition agreements with China.

In a report titled 'Protected No More: Uyghurs in Turkiye', HRW disclosed that the prior access of Uyghurs to international protection status and favorable treatment in the Turkish immigration system is being undermined as authorities indiscriminately affix “restriction codes” to their police and immigration records, designating them as a “public security threat.”

“Not long ago, Uyghurs fleeing oppression felt secure in Turkey, but as relations between China and Turkey improve, and the Erdoğan administration intensifies its crackdown on refugees and migrants, many are now filled with fear,” stated Elaine Pearson, Asia director at HRW.

“Some Uyghurs express that they fear leaving their homes due to the possibility of arrest and being sent to deportation centers, while others are embarking on dangerous journeys elsewhere in search of safety,” she added.

According to HRW, Uyghurs and their legal representatives reported that detainees face mistreatment in detention facilities and are often pressured to sign voluntary return documents, facilitating their repatriation or transfer to another nation. The group noted that at least three individuals interviewed had signed these documents, with one being deported to the United Arab Emirates, which has an extradition treaty with China.

“Now, without any legal documentation, I cannot even step outside for fear of being detained and ending up in a deportation center again,” quoted HRW, referring to one Uyghur whose residence permit was unjustly revoked by Turkish officials.

The organization stressed that the Turkish government is obligated under international law to adhere to the principle of non-refoulement, which forbids nations from returning individuals to regions where they risk persecution, torture, or other severe human rights violations.

“The Turkish government must honor the principle of non-refoulement, immediately cease all deportations of Uyghurs to third countries, and recognize Uyghurs as refugees on a prima facie basis,” Pearson urged.

“Other nations should stop sending Uyghurs to Turkey, as it can no longer be deemed a safe third country for them, and should consider resettling Uyghur refugees from Turkey,” she further emphasized.