United Nations human rights experts have urged Thailand not to send 48 Uyghurs in its custody back to China, warning they are at risk of torture, ill-treatment and "irreparable harm" if returned. Human rights groups and some Thai lawmakers have raised concerns in the past week that the transfer to China of the Uyghurs,

Thai authorities denied Wednesday there was an immediate plan to send back to China 48 Uyghurs held in the country's detention centres, after UN experts warned the group could face torture if they return.