US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday announced sanctions against officials from Thailand, a US ally, for their role in deporting at least 40 Uygurs to China, where Washington says the members of the Muslim group will face persecution.
The US is “committed to combating China’s efforts to pressure governments to forcibly return Uygurs and other groups to China, where they are subject to torture and enforced disappearances”, the US State Department said in a statement.
The move appeared intended to discourage Thailand and other countries from such deportations.
Thailand’s February deportation of the Uygurs, held in detention for a decade, came despite warnings from United Nations human rights experts that they were at risk of torture, ill-treatment and “irreparable harm” if returned.
Reuters reported earlier this month that Canada and the United States offered to resettle 48 ethnic Uygurs, but Bangkok feared upsetting China.
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UN human rights body says China may have committed crimes against humanity in Xinjiang
UN human rights body says China may have committed crimes against humanity in Xinjiang
“I am immediately implementing this policy by taking steps to impose visa restrictions on current and former officials for the Government of Thailand responsible for, or complicit in, the forced return of 40 Uygurs from Thailand on February 27,” Rubio said.
