Abim condemns Thai govt for deporting Uyghur refugees to China

Summary

• The Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (Abim) today expresses regret over Thailand’s decision to deport at least 40 Uyghur refugees to China.

• They raise concern over the safety of the refugees given China’s poor human rights record.

• Abim president Ahmad Fahmi Mohd Samsudin urges the international community to support Uyghurs seeking protection abroad.

The Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (Abim) has condemned the Thai government for deporting dozens of Uyghur refugees to China.

Citing China’s poor human rights record, Abim president Ahmad Fahmi Mohd Samsudin said they regretted the decision and expressed serious concerns about the refugees’ safety.

“Although the Thai government has stated that they have received assurances from China that the refugees will not be harmed, Abim reminds that, based on past records, Uyghur refugees repatriated to China often disappear without a trace and become completely uncontactable.

“This raises serious questions about their safety and fundamental rights upon their return to their country of origin.

“Abim fears that this action by the Thai government could serve as justification for China to continue similar measures against any Uyghur refugees seeking protection abroad,” Fahmi said in a statement.

According to news reports, the Thai government confirmed that at least 40 Uyghur refugees have been deported to China.

BBC reported that the refugees were believed to have been flown to China’s Xinjiang region on Thursday, after 10 years of being detained at a detention facility in Bangkok.

Adding further, Fahmi (above) said Thailand’s action could have detrimental effects on the fundamental rights of the refugees, who have been facing oppression in China.

“In this regard, Abim firmly emphasises that given China’s alarming human rights record, the Uyghur community deserves proper protection in accordance with the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits any country from deporting refugees to places where they face risks of torture, persecution, and human rights violations.

“Abim calls on the international community, particularly regional countries, to strengthen their stance in providing protection for Uyghur refugees and to reject any actions that threaten their safety and fundamental rights.”

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