UN rights chief criticizes Thailand’s deportation of Uyghurs to China
Turk strongly condemned the deportation as a violation of the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning people to places where they risk torture or harm
The deported men had been detained in Thailand since March 2014 under poor conditions
Five people from the original group died in custody, while eight others remain detained in Thailand
Turk criticized Thai authorities for failing to meet their international legal obligations despite repeated urging from his office
He called on China to disclose the whereabouts of the deported Uyghurs and ensure they're treated according to human rights standards
Turk urged Thailand to stop future deportations and protect remaining detainees
The article notes that the UN and human rights organizations have reported that at least more than one million Uyghurs have been detained in "re-education camps" in China