Kyrgyzstan Faces UN Scrutiny Over Uyghur Extraditions to China and Failure to Protect Refugees
By Uyghur Times Staff
May 14, 2025 – Geneva, Switzerland
In a rare instance, a Central Asian country has come under scrutiny from one of the world’s leading human rights bodies over the extradition of Uyghur refugees—an issue that resonates deeply with the Uyghur diaspora. United Nations human rights experts questioned the Kyrgyz government over its treatment of refugees and asylum seekers—particularly vulnerable groups such as Uyghurs, Uzbeks, and Chechens—during a review held by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) on Tuesday in Geneva.
The Committee examined Kyrgyzstan’s combined eleventh and twelfth periodic reports, addressing concerns about refoulement, statelessness, hate speech, and harmful traditional practices like bride kidnapping.
For decades, many Uyghurs living abroad have avoided traveling to Central Asian nations out of fear of being deported back to China. One of the most prominent examples is Huseyin Celil, a Uyghur-Canadian who was arrested during a visit to Uzbekistan and later extradited to China. In 2007, he was sentenced to life in prison by a Chinese court on charges of “terrorism” and “plotting to split the country”—charges widely condemned by international human rights groups.
Committee Raises Alarm Over Refugee Extraditions
Mazalo Tebie, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, expressed concern about reports of numerous cases of extradition involving Uyghur and Uzbek refugees and asylum seekers. “Uyghur, Uzbek and Chechen refugees and asylum seekers were reportedly extremely vulnerable,” Tebie said. “What measures are in place to protect the rights of refugees and asylum seekers and promote access to residence?”
Tebie further pressed the Kyrgyz delegation on how the country prevents refoulement, the forced return of refugees to countries where they may face persecution—particularly China, where Uyghur refugees are at severe risk of torture, detention, or enforced disappearance.”The Committee had received reports of numerous cases of extradition of refugees and asylum seekers, including Uyghurs from China and Uzbeks. How did the State party prevent refoulement? How many extradited migrants had been subjected to refoulement?, he asked.
Kyrgyz Government Defends Record
In response, Marat Tagaev, Deputy Minister of Culture, Information and Youth Policy of Kyrgyzstan and head of the delegation, claimed that Kyrgyzstan “fully adheres to its international obligations” under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. He said that the country’s development strategy up to 2040 prioritizes interethnic harmony and the protection of refugee rights.
Tagaev emphasized that refugees in Kyrgyzstan have access to health care, education, and freedom of movement. He added that Kyrgyzstan works with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to assess each asylum case and facilitate refugee integration.
From 2019 to 2024, Kyrgyzstan received about 300 appeals related to denied refugee status. Of those, roughly 140 were heard by the cassation court, which ruled in favor of granting refugee status in some cases.
CERD Chair Calls for Stronger Guarantees
In his closing remarks, Committee Chair Michal Balcerzak described the dialogue with Kyrgyzstan as constructive and meaningful. He noted that the information provided would inform the Committee’s final observations and recommendations.
