Human rights groups warned that the Uyghurs, who were held in Bangkok for more than a decade, will face mistreatment from Chinese authorities back in Xinjiang.

International standards and human rights principles must be followed, Thailand's prime minister said on Thursday, in response to concerns aired by activists that 48 Uyghurs held for more than a decade had been secretly deported to China.

Thailand should be commended for its handling of its return of 40 Uyghur Muslims to China, a deputy premier said on Friday, as his country endured a torrent of international condemnation over its secretive deportation.