China says Uyghurs deported by Thailand were to join IS
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 12 July 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, China says Uyghurs deported by Thailand were to join IS, 12 July 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/55b5f47515.html [accessed 20 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
July 12, 2015
China's official news agency says 109 ethnic Uyghurs that were deported from Thailand to China had been on their way to Turkey, Syria, or Iraq to join the Islamic State militant group.
China's official Xinhua News Agency says 13 of the Uyghurs fled China after being implicated in terrorist activities.
It also claimed Chinese police have uncovered several gangs that are recruiting for the IS militant group from among Uyghurs – a Turkic-speaking Muslim minority in China's western region of Xinjiang.
The mass deportation on July 9 by Thailand has raised international criticism that refugees could face persecution by Chinese authorities.
The United Nations refugee agency called the deportations "a flagrant violation of international law."
Most of the Uyghurs had been in Thailand for more than a year and had claimed to be Turkish.
They were deported after Thai authorities determined they were Chinese citizens.
In Istanbul, protesters ransacked the Thai consulate after the decision to deport them.
Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
