ICC Note: Thirty-five asylum seekers from Pakistan and Somalia who were arrested in Thailand between October 21 and October 31, remain in detention, according to watchdog Fortify Rights. Thailand’s government refuses to differentiate between illegal immigration and refugees, leaving asylum seekers vulnerable to arrest and deportation. Christians asylum seekers from Pakistan have experienced extreme hardships and serious persecution in their home countries should not experience additional persecution in Thailand.
11/06/2017 Thailand (AFP) – Thai authorities should release 35 Pakistani and Somali asylum seekers arrested in recent raids, a rights group said Monday, slamming arrests that swept up more than a dozen children.
Most of the men, women and children held documents issued by the UN’s refugee agency when they were detained by police in Bangkok on October 21, 30 and 31, according to watchdog Fortify Rights.
A total of 19 children were initially arrested, with six — including four unaccompanied Somali minors — still in detention, the watchdog said.
Many of the adults were charged with overstaying their visas or other immigration violations.
Fortify Rights director Amy Smith called for their swift release and lambasted Thai authorities for “trampling on the rights of asylum seekers”.
“Asylum seekers fleeing persecution in their home countries shouldn’t experience further violations in Thailand,” she said.
Thailand’s porous borders, lax visa requirements and reputation for religious tolerance have made the kingdom a magnet for refugees fleeing persecution around the globe.
But the government refuses to differentiate between illegal immigrants and refugees, leaving asylum seekers vulnerable to arrest and deportation as they wait out years-long vetting processes by the UNHCR.
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