Thailand says Uyghur men can contest possible return to China in court

Thai officials said Uyghur men held in Thailand would be able to contest their possible return to China in court before any transfer, The Hindu and Reuters reported. Concerns have been raised that the men could face torture if returned.

The Hindu quoted Chaipruak Doungprapat, head of Thailand's National Security Council, as saying: "But if the court rules against them, they will be extradited according to the treaty. This is the judicial process." He said his agency will not decide on deportation and the men will be able to defend themselves, according to the newspaper. If the court rules in their favour, he said, they could be sent to another country for resettlement.

What is reported

According to The Hindu, two men, aged 26 and 35, were released from prison in late October. They are being held at the Suan Plu immigration detention centre in Bangkok. The newspaper says they have been held in Thailand for more than a decade and were among more than 300 Uyghurs detained in 2014 near the Malaysian border.

The Hindu says the men wrote letters, shared publicly last week, pleading not to be sent back. It says the Peace Rights Foundation, founded by former lawmaker Kannavee Suebsang, represents them.

According to The Hindu, Thailand sent a group of mostly women and children from the 2014 detainees to Turkey. It deported 109 others to China in 2015, prompting an international outcry. The Thai embassy in Turkiye was ransacked in protest. The newspaper says Thailand sent 40 Uyghur men back to China in February 2025, despite pleas from Thai lawmakers and UN officials. It adds that some Western governments have described China's crackdown on Uyghurs as a genocide.

What is disputed

• Number of men: The Hindu refers to two men and Reuters to five. The reports do not explain the difference or say whether the two are among the five.
• Extradition request: Reuters reports a Chinese extradition request. The Hindu reports Chaipruak as saying China must make a formal request if it wants the men returned. It says Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning did not comment on whether one had been sent.

What each side says

• Thailand: An unnamed government spokesman said five men may challenge the request in court before any deportation is approved, according to Reuters.
• China: Mao said cooperation against cross-border crimes, including illegal immigration, complies with both countries' laws, international law and international practice, according to The Hindu. The newspaper says China has called the group detained in 2014 terrorists and has consistently pushed for their return.
• The men: "We aren’t terrorist," one wrote in a letter shared by Kannavee, according to The Hindu.
• Critics: Rights groups say the men risk torture, according to Reuters. Opposition lawmaker Sasinan Thamnithinan said Thailand is obligated by domestic and international law not to return anyone to a country where they could face torture or inhumane treatment, according to The Hindu.

The reports do not identify the men, describe any charges or name the court. Vocemundi reviewed only a summary of the Reuters report.

Analysis

A court process would move the decision from Thailand's security agencies to judges, but its practical effect remains unclear. A ruling for the men could raise the question of resettlement, and the reports identify no country that might accept them. A ruling against them could lead to extradition and renewed scrutiny, given the transfers in 2015 and 2025. Much may depend on details the reports leave open, including how many men are involved, whether China has filed a formal request and on what basis. The case may test how Thailand balances its relations with China against the legal obligations its critics cite.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.