On February 5, 2025, co-founder and president of Human Rights Action Group and Legal Advisor to Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project (URAP) Sarah Teich appeared at a press conference alongside Liberal MP Sameer Zuberi, URAP Executive Director Mehmet Tohti, clinical professor of medicine and co-chair of Canadians in Support of Refugees in Dire Need Dr. Aliya Khan, and member of the Uyghur Association of Canada and vice-director of Uyghur Academy Canada Raziya Mahmut. The group highlighted the case of 48 Uyghurs refugees facing the risk of deportation from Thailand to China.

Sarah Teich noted that the deportation of these men would violate international laws and principles, namely Article 3 of the Convention against Torture, the customary international law principle of non-refoulment, and the prohibition against genocide. She urged Canada, and other human rights-respecting countries, to communicate to Thai officials that the deportation of the 48 Uyghur men would be unlawful and could result in legal consequences, such as initiation of a case at the International Court of Justice, and press the country to accept resettlement offers enabling the men to resettle in one of the world’s democracies.

The news conference can be viewed in its entirety here.