By Uyghur Times Staff
April 2025
Three Uyghur men who spent over a decade in harsh detention in Thailand were quietly resettled in Canada in April, according to Thai lawmakers and activists. The release comes months after Thailand sparked global outrage by forcibly deporting 40 Uyghurs back to China—where they face the risk of torture, indefinite detention, and death.
The three men, originally part of a group of 300 Uyghur refugees fleeing Chinese persecution in 2014, were resettled during Thailand’s Songkran festival. Unlike the rest, they were spared deportation due to holding dual Kyrgyz and Chinese citizenship and having no Chinese ID at the time of arrest.
Over the years, Thailand deported 109 Uyghurs to China, sent 173 to Turkey, and left 53 in indefinite detention. At least five, including children, died while in custody. Now, only five Uyghurs remain in Thai prisons, serving sentences for trying to escape, and there are fears they could soon be sent back to China.
Human rights groups, including the UN, have condemned Thailand’s treatment of Uyghur detainees, citing inhumane conditions, lack of due process, and possible violations of international law. Advocates are now urging the Thai government to work with UNHCR to ensure the remaining Uyghurs are protected and resettled safely.
