On democracy and human rights in Thailand, notably the lese-majesty law and the deportation of Uyghur refugees.

B100176/2025

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on democracy and human rights in Thailand, notably the lese-majesty law and the deportation of Uyghur refugees.

(2025/2594(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Thailand,

– having regard to its previous resolutions related to Uyghurs in China,

– having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

A.whereas on 27 February 2025 at least 40 Uyghurs were deported to China, as confirmed by the Thai authorities, despite offers from Canada and the US to resettle them;

B.whereas this group was among 300 Uyghurs detained at the Thai border in 2014 after fleeing repression in Xinjiang, many of whom were sent to Turkey while others were deported back to China;

C.whereas human rights groups accuse China of widespread abuses of Uyghurs, as stated in many European Parliament resolutions, more recently the resolution on the cases of unjustly imprisoned Uyghurs in China, notably Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas;

D.whereas the situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, where more than 10 million Uyghurs and ethnic Kazakhs live, has rapidly deteriorated in the last few years, given Xinjiang's strategic location as a core region for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), with ambitious future production targets for textiles and other labour-intensive manufacturing products;

E.whereas many people have been harmed by lese-majesty law; even though it has been in force since 1908;

F.whereas Article 112 of the Thai Penal Code punishes with three to 15 years imprisonment those found guilty of defaming, insulting, or threatening the King, the Queen, the Heir to the throne, or the Regent.

1.Condemn Thailand's forcible return of at least 40 Uyghurs to China, where they have been denied due process rights and have faced persecution, forced labour and torture; we are alarmed by this action, which risks violating Thailand's international obligations under the UN Convention against Torture and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.;

2.Expresses deep concern over reports of the possible use of Uyghur forced labour drawn from internment camps in the supply chain of international companies doing business in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and over reports of collaboration with the Chinese institutions involved in the mass surveillance or detention;

3.Note with concern about reported Chinese secret police activities overseas and efforts to interfere with national sovereignty;

4.Express concern that the lese-majesty law restricts freedom of speech, a fundamental pillar of a free society, which is also under pressure in European society;

7.Calls for the EU and its Member States, as key development partners, to raise individual cases, human rights concerns by these laws with the Thai and Chinese authorities;

8.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Thai and Chinese authorities and international institutions.