Human Rights Watch (HRW) recently expressed concerns about the treatment of Uyghur migrants in Türkiye, emphasizing a significant deterioration in their legal protections. The group’s findings shed light on alleged inhumane conditions and the looming risk of deportation that Uyghurs face, which could send them back to China where they may encounter severe human rights violations. Recent reports suggest Türkiye is imposing “restriction codes” on Uyghurs, categorizing them as threats to public security. This leads to denied international protection applications, arbitrary detention, and the classification of Uyghurs as “irregular migrants” in an immigration crackdown.
In Turkish deportation centers, conditions are reportedly harsh, raising concerns about compliance with Türkiye’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), particularly Article 7, which prohibits cruel treatment. Allegations of mistreatment, including strip-searches and overcrowded conditions, have emerged from interviews with Uyghurs, often forced to sleep on cement floors.
Reliable appeal mechanisms seem limited due to the impact of these restriction codes. An evaluation of five deportation cases showed that Turkish courts upheld orders without adequately explaining how the Uyghur applicants posed security threats. Instead of recognizing the risk of ill-treatment upon return to China, courts concluded otherwise. Legal professionals in Türkiye worry that judges might favor negative decisions upon seeing these codes. This approach contradicts previous documentation of human rights abuses, such as enforced disappearances and cultural persecution against Uyghurs (learn more).
HRW also called on Türkiye to cease deportations to countries holding extradition agreements with China. Such practices reflect concerns about transnational repression of Uyghurs, similar to events in Malaysia, Cambodia, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia. These actions could breach the non-refoulement principle in international law, which prohibits returning individuals to places where they may face severe harm. Türkiye’s own legal standards, such as Article 55 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection, align with this principle.
Despite these guidelines, Türkiye reportedly deported six Uyghurs between 2018 and 2019, some of whom were later repatriated to China from Tajikistan and have since disappeared. HRW’s findings align with previous reports about the detention of Uyghurs in China’s “re-education camps,” where they face various abuses, including forced labor. With roughly 50,000 Uyghurs living in Türkiye, the ongoing situation poses a significant humanitarian concern.
Efforts to pursue legal action on the international stage have met challenges, as seen when the International Criminal Court’s Prosecutor declined an investigation into alleged genocide against the Uyghurs, noting China’s non-party status to the Rome Statute. The complex legal and human rights landscape surrounding Uyghur treatment in Türkiye remains a critical issue, warranting close scrutiny and action from the international community.