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

The European Parliament adopted by 482 votes to 57, with 68 abstentions, a resolution on democracy and human rights in Thailand, notably the lese-majesty law and the deportation of Uyghur refugees.

The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the EPP, S&D, ECR, Renew and Greens/EFA groups.

On 27 February 2025, the Thai authorities violated international law by deporting at least 40 Uyghur refugees to China, where they risk arbitrary detention, torture and serious human rights violations.

Since 2020, over 1 960 pro-democracy activists, human rights defenders and journalists, including over 280 minors, have been indicted or condemned for their opinions under repressive laws that curb freedom of expression, including the lese-majesty law.

Parliament condemned the deportation of Uyghur refugees to China. It called on the Thai authorities to immediately halt any further forced returns of refugees, asylum seekers and political dissidents to countries where their lives are at risk.

The Thai Government is called on to:

- grant the UNHCR unrestricted access to all detained Uyghur asylum seekers and provide transparent information on their status;

- ratify the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol thereto and to implement a transparent, fair and humane asylum system;

- strengthen its institutions in line with democratic principles and international human rights standards and amend or repeal repressive laws to guarantee the right to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and political participation.

China is called on to respect the fundamental rights of the deported Uyghurs, ensure transparency about their whereabouts, grant the UNHCR access to them and release those detained.

Parliament called on the Commission to leverage FTA negotiations to press Thailand to reform repressive laws, particularly the lese-majesty law, release political prisoners, halt the deportation of Uyghur refugees and ratify all core ILO conventions.

Text adopted by Parliament, single reading