Thailand grants royal pardons to two Uyghur detainees as deportation plans unfold
Two Chinese Uyghur men held in Thailand received royal pardons and are now awaiting deportation, though their final destination remains undecided.
Two Uyghur men who arrived in Thailand in 2014 were granted royal pardons and moved to the Immigration Detention Centre in Bangkok, pending deportation. Their fate will be determined by the Thai government, which may send them to China or another willing nation. They are among the last of more than 300 Uyghur detainees held since 2014, most of whom have already been deported to Turkiye, China or other destinations amid global condemnation of China's treatment of the minority.
The men had previously attempted to escape detention in 2020, leading to convictions that barred earlier deportation. Three other men convicted for the same escape remain in prison. Thailand's National Security Council will now consider diplomatic and humanitarian factors before finalizing the deportation plan.
Why it matters
The case highlights Thailand's role in the broader controversy over the treatment and movement of Uyghur refugees.
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