Elaine Pearson, the Asia director at Human Rights Watch said she feared the returned group now faced “a high risk of torture, enforced disappearance, and long-term imprisonment in China”, having already enduring a decade in immigration detention in Thailand.
At a separate press conference, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian rejected criticisms from “so-called human rights advocates” and said all ethnic groups in China enjoyed rights and freedoms as Chinese citizens.
Dozens of Uyghurs have been deported from Thailand to China in the face of warnings from human rights experts that they will face a high risk of torture, enforced disappearance and imprisonment.
China’s public security ministry said it attached “great importance” to their return and the “repatriation” was “in line with the laws” of China and Thailand and international practice.
The Thai deputy premier Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed the deportation, telling Reuters that China had assured Thailand the 40 Chinese Uyghurs it returned on Thursday would be looked after.
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