Thai Court Sentences Two Uyghur Men To Death In 2015 Erawan Shrine Bombing Case

A Thai court on Thursday sentenced two Uyghur men to death for their role in the 2015 Erawan Shrine bombing , a deadly attack in central Bangkok that killed 20 people and injured more than 120, concluding a decade-long and widely scrutinised trial.

The Bangkok South Criminal Court convicted Yusufu Mieraili and Bilal Mohammad after judges ruled there was overwhelming forensic evidence , including CCTV footage, fingerprints and other material linking them to the blast. The explosion took place on August 17, 2015 at the busy Erawan Shrine , a major tourist site in Bangkok’s commercial district, and is regarded as Thailand’s deadliest bombing.

The court found the defendants guilty of premeditated murder , attempted murder and illegal possession of explosives. Both men denied the charges and have said they will appeal.

After sentencing, Mieraili shouted in court that he rejected the verdict and was innocent, saying he “mourned for Thailand” and had not received justice. Defence lawyers said they would challenge the ruling, citing unresolved evidentiary concerns and procedural gaps.

The trial, which began in 2016, was repeatedly delayed due to translation difficulties , witness challenges and its transfer from a military tribunal to a civilian court in 2019. The defendants also alleged torture and forced confessions, claims the court rejected.

Authorities initially linked up to 17 suspects to the case, but only a few were arrested. One Thai suspect was later acquitted in 2024 for lack of evidence. Investigators have said the attack may have been carried out either by a people-smuggling network retaliating against Thai crackdowns or by Uyghur-linked militants angered by Thailand’s 2015 deportation of Uyghurs to China.

The case has drawn sustained criticism from human rights organisations , including UN-linked bodies, over due process concerns and long-term detention without resolution. China, meanwhile, welcomed the verdict, calling the bombing a “heinous crime,” according to official statements.

Analysts also note the case remains politically sensitive amid ongoing tensions over Uyghur deportations, including Thailand’s later repatriation actions that have repeatedly triggered international concern.