Hundreds of Pakistani Christians Arrested in Bangkok

On September 10, hundreds of Pakistani Christian asylum seekers in Bangkok were arrested in a raid conducted by Thai police, immigration authorities, and the Army.

The asylum seekers, which included children, nursing women, sick and elderly, were transported directly to the Immigration Detention Center.

The arrests follow the visit of Lord David Alton last week, who met with authorities to address issues of overcrowding in the detention centers and inhumane treatment.

Lord Alton also held meetings with asylum seekers to gather witness testimony to the issues facing the Pakistani Christian community in Bangkok. Pakistani asylum seekers in Bangkok, most of which are fleeing religious persecution, are often targeted in Bangkok due to their noticeably dark skin. The UNHCR in Bangkok has experienced a back-log in their system, which as enabled the asylum seekers’ visas to expire before getting a chance to have an interview with the UNHCR, therefore making the asylum seekers prone to arrest.

This publication has been published on February, 25 2012.

Category: Security, Defence & Migration

Author

Sergio Bianchi

Board Member, Research and Innovation

Agenfor International

Agenfor Chairman from 1996 until 2012. Now General Director of Intl Organisations, works for Agenfor on voluntary basis as researcher. Arabist specialized in the field of Muslim minorities, Dr. Bianchi has carried out in-depth research on security issues and geopolitics, supporting the idea that Islam may be a resource to counter the terrorist threats. Among his recent books “Is Islamism a Threat?” (2015), “Jihadist Radicalisation in European Prisons” (2010), “The Italian right parties in the age of leadership” (2008). His articles and video productions regarding a wide range of topics from politics to breaking news have been featured in national and internationally published newspapers and TVs over the years.