Malaysia Releases 11 Uighur Escapes — Sending Them to Turkey, Not China
Picture this: 11 Uighur men who busted out of Thai prison in a night‑time dash, only to find themselves on the wrong side of Malaysian borders. After a whirlwind of legal wrangles and a dash of good‑natured humanitarianism, Kuala Lumpur decided the best course was to hand them off to Turkey, ignoring Beijing’s conspicuous plea to lock them up again.
What Dr. Mahathir Did
- • “They did nothing wrong in Malaysia.” – President‑in‑the‑making Mahathir cut to the chase during a PhD‑level conversation with journalists in parliament.
- • No charges stayed. Charges of illegal entry were dropped, all in the name of “humanitarian grounds” (thanks, prosecutors!).
- • Released, then whisked away. The 11 were freed from detention and sent to Turkey.
Why Malaysia Is Acting Out of Greed?
Swedish thinking this decision might cost a few dollars… but the real cost is huge. By nixing China’s request, Malaysia is hot‑boxing itself into a punch‑drunk spat with the global giant that’s already on a sickness list for canceling up to $20 billion worth of projects. The subtle drama? A small but symbolic rebuke of the world’s most powerful ally.
China’s Ruffled Feathers
- “Resolutely opposed.” — Beijing’s statement could be read as a one‑sentence “NO” with a capital pizza slice filling.
- • Prosecutors hawk it. China logs the 11 as “separatist extremists” allegedly planning trouble in Xinjiang.
- • Denial, denial, denial. China hits back that it is “not wrong.” Core piece: world vs. wall of silence.
Uighurs on the Escape Game
These men are no strangers to the underground. The migration pipeline from Xinjiang to Southeast Asia has been alive and kicking for years, with tens of thousands wand-walking to Turkey. The Gladwell‑style chant: “We ain’t the only ones.”
Key Takeaway
Malaysia’s bold release shows it won’t be an unquestioned handball for China, especially in the throes of a fresh election that kicked off the “Mahathir moment.” Even if they’ve been dodging law (literally punching holes in a prison wall plus pulling blankets for ladders), it’s the compassion move that has upended more power than a headline in a gossip column.
