Bangkok, Thailand – September 11, 2024
BACA (British Asian Christian Association) is urgently appealing for financial support following the recent arrest of 15 Pakistani Christian asylum seekers in Thailand.
On September 10, 2024, the Royal Thai Police raided a workplace in Charan Sait Worng, Bangkok, apprehending these individuals, who are now facing severe legal consequences under Thailand’s strict immigration laws.
The families of the arrested have appealed to BACA (British Asian Christian Association) for financial assistance to pay the fines; otherwise, their loved ones face the risk of being sent to a criminal jail.
On September 10th, the Royal Thai Police conducted a raid at a workplace in Charan Sait Worng, Bangkok, Thailand, arresting 15 Pakistani asylum seekers. The Thai government classifies these individuals as illegal immigrants, subjecting them to strict immigration laws and heavy fines for overstaying their visas.
The families of the arrested asylum seekers have sought refuge in safer locations to avoid potential crackdowns by the Royal Thai Immigration Police. Our representative in Thailand reported that around 2:00 PM on September 10th, a large number of immigration officers, arriving in two police vans, raided a private workplace where these 15 Christian asylum seekers were employed. Many of these individuals are beneficiaries of BACA’s food grant program, which supports Pakistani Christian asylum seekers in Thailand.
Many of these Christian families fled Pakistan due to persecution, seeking refuge in Thailand with hopes of eventually relocating to safer countries. However, life in Thailand has been fraught with challenges. They reside in small, dilapidated apartments and endure a constant fear of arrest. To make ends meet, they work under harsh conditions, often facing exploitation due to their illegal status. Employers frequently pay them half wages or, in some cases, fail to pay them at all.
Among the 15 individuals arrested are Yusaf Babu (45), Roger Masih (33), Shumail Abaiz (31), Irfan Masih (37), Farah Irfan (40), Neha Aneel (25), and her two-year-old son, Suleman Aneel. All of these individuals and their families are regular beneficiaries of BACA’s food grant program, which aims to support them during their difficult circumstances in Thailand.
Our representative in Thailand has provided the following information:
- Roger Masih (33) and his family, including his wife and three children, have been in Thailand for the past seven years.
- Irfan Masih (37), his wife Farah Irfan (40), and their two daughters and a son fled Pakistan in 2013. Their children are now vulnerable without their parents.
- Neha Aneel, along with her husband and son, arrived in Thailand two years ago seeking refuge.
- Shumail Abaiz (31) and his wife have been in Thailand for the past 10 years.
The families of these individuals have reached out to BACA for assistance in paying their fines. The police have taken the arrested persons to the Immigration Bureau at Chaengwattana Immigration Centre for investigation and detention. This process typically takes one to two days to determine the fine amount based on the length of their illegal stay in Thailand. The arrested individuals will be presented in court on September 12th or 13th.
Those who are able to pay their fines will be transferred to an Immigration Detention Center (IDC) until they can be bailed out. However, those who cannot pay the fines will be sent to criminal jail. The families of the detained individuals have urgently requested BACA’s assistance to cover these fines, which are 6,000 Baht (£136) per person. To pay the fines for all six individuals, a total of 36,000 Baht (£816) is required.
The British Asian Christian Association has launched an urgent appeal to support these arrested asylum seekers. Your generous donation can make a significant difference in helping these vulnerable families. Please donate now and be part of this vital effort to secure their release and safety (click here).
Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee for British Asian Christian Association, said:
“The anguish that these arrested individuals and their families are feeling is unimaginable. Many fled to Thailand to escape persecution and the threat of imprisonment in Pakistan, only to now face the grim reality of long-term incarceration in a foreign country. It breaks my heart to see people who have already suffered so much being subjected to degrading detention conditions in Thailand, where facilities are severely lacking and have already resulted in several tragic deaths.
While there is a bail system in place—one that BACA and other charities were instrumental in negotiating with the Royal Thai authorities—we will urgently investigate how many of those currently detained can access this facility. We are committed to doing everything possible to alleviate their suffering, but it is deeply painful to know that so many are forced to endure such appalling conditions, especially mothers with children. We are calling on the global community to support these vulnerable individuals and help us bring them the relief and dignity they desperately need.”
