Below is an extract from an article published by the United Nations News Centre:

The United Nations refugee agency today expressed deep concern over the fate of a Chinese Uighur asylum seeker in Kazakhstan who it fears might have been deported, (…).

The Uighur asylum seeker disappeared in the Kazakh city of Almaty on 23 October after he was released conditionally when a court dismissed all criminal charges that led to his detention in June.

“UNHCR immediately requested the government to investigate the circumstances of his disappearance and was assured by the Foreign Minister that the government would thoroughly look into the matter,” agency spokesman Ron Redmond told a news briefing in Geneva.

“UNHCR, however, fears that the asylum seeker might have been deported. We therefore call on the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan to expedite the investigation related to the disappearance,” he added.

After his detention, the asylum seeker’s wife had immediately filed an application with UNHCR seeking refugee status for her husband and protection against deportation.

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