In brief
In a bid to prevent their forced return to China, where they risk persecution, a group of Uyghur men detained in Thailand has embarked on a hunger strike after being presented with "voluntary return" forms. The Thai government has denied any plans for their deportation, but the men remain in fear of the consequences.
Dozens of Uyghur men, who fled repression in China for safety, are now at the mercy of Thai immigration authorities, having been detained for over a decade. Beginning on January 10, they have entered their second week of a hunger strike in Bangkok, driven by deep fears of imminent deportation back to China, which they view as a direct threat to their lives. Their protest commenced shortly after they were asked to sign "voluntary return" forms, a practice that evokes memories of the 2015 deportation of 109 Uyghurs from Thailand to China, where many faced severe repercussions. While Thai officials insist that there are no plans to return these detainees, the men have expressed feeling trapped and frightened by the mere possibility of returning to a country notorious for systemic human rights abuses against Uyghurs.The detainees’ isolation is compounded by limited communication with the outside world, with only occasional visits from medical staff. Reports indicate that their access to advocacy and support is severely restricted. Communication has primarily occurred through secret messages shared with journalists and human rights advocates, revealing the desperation of their situation.The Uyghurs, a Turkic-speaking Muslim minority from Xinjiang, have been subjected to systematic oppression by the Chinese government, which has intensified since 2014. Surveillance, mass detentions, and repressive policies aiming to eradicate any signs of ethnic dissent have marked their existence in Xinjiang, forcing many to seek sanctuary abroad.As they continue their hunger strike to assert their resistance against deportation, these men symbolize the ongoing struggle of Uyghurs seeking freedom from persecution and echo a plea for international attention to their plight.
