Sydney: Australia has expressed strong opposition to Thailand’s recent decision to forcibly repatriate 40 Uyghurs to China, Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated on Friday.
The move has sparked widespread international condemnation, including from the United Nations, the United States, and human rights organizations.
Advocacy groups accuse Beijing of severe mistreatment of Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim ethnic group of around 10 million people in Xinjiang. While China denies these allegations, concerns persist over the group's safety.
Thailand confirmed that the deportation took place in a secretive operation during the early hours of the morning, despite warnings from UN human rights experts. These experts had urged Thai authorities not to send the Uyghurs back, citing fears that they could face torture, ill-treatment, and severe harm upon return. The group had been in Thai detention for a decade since fleeing China in 2014.
In response, Wong emphasized Australia’s deep concerns over the human rights situation in Xinjiang, particularly regarding the treatment of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities. She also confirmed that Australia had raised the issue with both Thai and Chinese authorities.
"We have repeatedly expressed our concerns to the Thai government and have now communicated our expectations regarding the treatment of these individuals to Chinese authorities," Wong said.
