“Stop The Deportation”: Malaysian NGOs Warn Thailand Over Uyghur Refugees’ Fate
These Uyghurs have been held in Thai detention centers for over a decade without legal representation or family access.


Subscribe to our FREE Newsletter, or Telegram and WhatsApp channels for the latest stories and updates.
Malaysian Islamic organizations on Wednesday joined mounting international pressure against Thailand over concerns about the potential deportation of 48 Uyghur refugees to China, even as Thai authorities denied any immediate plans for their return.
The Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organizations (MAPIM) and Malaysia for Uyghur (M4U) issued a joint statement expressing “grave concern” over the situation of the Uyghurs, who have been held in Thai detention centres for over a decade.
Deporting these refugees to China, where they face the threat of imprisonment, torture, or worse, is a clear violation of international human rights norms, said MAPIM President Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid.
MAPIM and M4U outlined several demands in their statement, including:
- Immediate suspension of any deportation plans
- Collaboration with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to ensure refugee protection
- Greater ASEAN involvement in safeguarding refugee rights
Thailand plans to send 48 Uyghur men who have been in Thai detention for over a decade to China.
— Human Rights Watch (@hrw) January 21, 2025
If deported, these Uyghur detainees may face enforced disappearance, long-term imprisonment, torture, and other severe mistreatment: https://t.co/AUAaXoxNVE pic.twitter.com/tGEaiS4Na4
Detention Limbo
The development comes as Thai officials continue to deny plans for immediate deportation.
A senior Thai immigration department official said the country’s national security council will make the decision and so far, there is no order.
The group of 48 Uyghurs were arrested in 2013 and 2014 after crossing into Thailand.
United Nations (UN) experts say they have been held in de facto incommunicado detention with no access to legal representation or family members.
A Southeast Asian Sanctuary
Malaysian NGOs have historically played a crucial role in providing humanitarian assistance to Uyghur refugees, often working quietly behind the scenes to establish safe passage routes through Southeast Asia.
Many Uyghurs feel relatively safe here due to Malaysia’s Muslim-majority population and our history of providing humanitarian aid.
11 Uyghur asylum seekers who escaped to Malaysia last year after being inhumanely detained in Thailand for more than 4 years, have safely arrived in Turkey today.
— Uyghur from E.T☪ (@Uyghurspeaker) October 10, 2018
被泰国非人道拘禁四年后于去年越狱逃至马来西亚的11名維吾尔避难者今天安全到达土耳其 pic.twitter.com/H0cSdM92Rh
The country has also emerged as a key platform for Uyghur advocacy in Southeast Asia, regularly hosting prominent activists from the United States and Turkey who conduct public awareness campaigns and engage with Malaysian parliamentarians.
The engagement with Malaysian MPs and religious leaders has helped maintain international attention on the Uyghur community’s plight.
Today in Kuala Lumpur, ED @Ahakimidris met with his Excellency Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, and presented him a Uyghur dopa, his Book & a letter asking for his support for the #Uyghurs
— Center for Uyghur Studies (@CUyghurstudy) April 19, 2023
@abimalaysia # Islam pic.twitter.com/vud9bQz9Df
Walking The Diplomatic Tightrope
While Malaysian civil society continues to support Uyghur rights, the situation has grown more complex in recent years as Malaysia’s official stance on the Uyghur issue has shifted.
The Malaysian government has notably abstained from UN votes condemning China’s treatment of Uyghurs and has maintained a policy of non-interference on what Beijing terms its “internal affairs.”
‼️UN Human Rights Council proposal to debate the “situation” in Xinjiang REJECTED.
— Andy Boreham 安柏然 (@AndyBxxx) October 7, 2022
This is a great moment in the march toward a multipolar world, free from US/Western hegemony.
PS: The “Xinjiang genocide” is a lie pushed by a desperate, warmongering US. pic.twitter.com/AyVzPBseSv
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has faced criticism for his reluctance to condemn China’s treatment of the Uyghur minority openly.
In multiple instances, Anwar has expressed the need for more information before passing judgment on the issue and has been described as being “careful not to condemn China’s policies.”
Mehdi Hasan puts to Malaysian PM @anwaribrahim that many experts consider China’s policies on Uyghurs in Xinjiang genocide.
— Max Walden (@maxwalden_) October 5, 2024
Anwar: “Well I dispute that.” https://t.co/q5bXUWPt0K
READ MORE: The Escape To Freedom: How Malaysia Became Uyghur Refugees’ Lifeline
READ MORE: Malaysia’s New Uyghur Restaurant Serves Up Food And Awareness
READ MORE: Malaysia Has No Opinion On Uyghurs In China, Abstains From UN Vote
Share your thoughts with us via TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Threads.