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‘Wholly Negligent’:Uyghur Asylum Seekers Keep Dying in Thailand’s Detention Centers

- April 25, 2023
Uyghur Asylum Seekers Keep Dying in Thailand’s Detention Centers
Abdulloh Eziz, a 38-year-old Uyghur asylum seeker, has died in a Thai detention center after being held for over two years. Eziz and a group of Uyghurs were detained in Thailand while attempting to escape China's Xinjiang region, where they faced persecution and internment in concentration camps. Human Rights Watch reported that Eziz had a severe medical condition and had repeatedly requested medical attention, but his requests were ignored, leading to his death on April 6, 2023.

The tragic death of Eziz highlights the plight of Uyghur refugees and the dangers they face when attempting to flee China. Many Uyghurs have been detained in countries such as Thailand, Cambodia, and Malaysia, which have close ties with the Chinese government and are often willing to cooperate with its efforts to repatriate Uyghur refugees. This cooperation can result in the detention and deportation of Uyghurs, who are at risk of facing further persecution and abuse in China.

Uyghurs are a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority in China’s Xinjiang region, where they have faced increasing persecution and surveillance in recent years. The Chinese government has detained over a million Uyghurs in concentration camps, where they are subjected to forced labor, torture, and political indoctrination. The international community has condemned China’s treatment of the Uyghur minority and has called for an end to the internment camps and other forms of repression.

Eziz’s death underscores the urgent need for countries to provide Uyghur refugees with protection and support. It also highlights the importance of raising awareness about the ongoing human rights crisis faced by the Uyghur minority and the need for action to hold China accountable for its abuses. Governments around the world should take a more proactive stance in providing asylum and protection for Uyghurs who are fleeing persecution, and they should work together to pressure China to end its crackdown on the minority.

Eziz’s death is a tragedy that underscores the ongoing human rights crisis faced by the Uyghur minority in China. The international community must do more to protect the rights of Uyghur refugees and hold China accountable for its abuses. Countries should provide asylum and protection to Uyghurs fleeing persecution and work together to pressure China to end its crackdown on the minority.