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. The asylum seekers living in Thailand's shadows hail from nearly 50 countries around the globe, with Pakistanis -- many of them Christian -- making up the biggest block.

Source: The Nation Bangkok November 06, 2017 07:41 UTC