A Thai court has found two Chinese Uyghur individuals guilty of premeditated murder and attempted murder related to a bombing incident at the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, which occurred 11 years ago. The attack, which took place in August 2015, resulted in the deaths of 20 people and caused significant injuries to over 100 others.
Following the court’s decision, one of the convicted individuals, Yusufu Mieraili, expressed his frustration, stating, “RIP Thailand’s justice system. I didn’t do anything wrong.” Both Mieraili and his co-defendant, Bilal Mohammed, were sentenced to death for their involvement in the deadly explosion.
The blast devastated the shrine, a site frequented by both worshippers and tourists, scattering debris and remnants of motorbikes across the area. Among the deceased were several Chinese tourists, and the explosives, hidden in a backpack, detonated amidst a crowd.
A member of the four-judge panel emphasized the severity of the defendants’ actions, saying, “The defendants committed a single act that violated multiple laws. The court therefore imposed the harshest penalty available under the law, the death sentence.”
In a separate case, the same defendants were acquitted of involvement in another bombing incident that occurred at a pier in Bangkok’s Charoen Nakhon district. Their lawyer, Choochat Kanpai, announced plans to appeal the court’s ruling, arguing that various aspects of the case were inadequately considered, including the treatment of the defendants throughout the trial.
The protracted trial, which has been ongoing for nearly a decade, faced numerous delays, including interruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic and challenges in obtaining translation services. The bombing transpired shortly after Thailand’s military government forcibly repatriated 109 Uyghurs to China, where human rights organizations claim the Muslim minority faces severe cultural and religious oppression. This timing led to speculation that the attack was motivated by a desire for retaliation against Thailand’s government, which had fostered closer ties with Beijing.
Initially, authorities named 17 suspects in connection with the bombing, but Mieraili and Mohammed were the first to be captured. The investigation faced criticism for its lack of transparency and thoroughness, seemingly concluding soon after the two men were arrested. Their trial commenced in 2016, but was marked by repeated delays, including one instance where the translator for the accused faced drug-related charges.
In 2017, another individual, Wanna Suansan, was apprehended upon her arrival in Bangkok under a warrant related to the shrine bombing. She faced charges of attempted murder, associated murder, and possession of explosives but was acquitted in 2024.
Uyghurs, a Turkic ethnic group from China’s Xinjiang province, have been the subject of widespread allegations regarding human rights violations by Beijing, which includes the detention of approximately one million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities. The Chinese government has denied these accusations.
In response to the court’s verdict, Lin Jian, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, expressed support for the judicial outcome, stating that China backs Thailand’s decision to impose strict penalties on the bombers. Last year, Thailand deported an additional group of 40 Uyghurs back to China, despite warnings from United Nations human rights experts about the risks of torture and mistreatment they would face upon their return.
Today, the Erawan Shrine continues to attract numerous visitors, particularly from China, as a popular site within the capital.
