UN experts have expressed serious concerns regarding the recent extradition of Vietnamese human rights defender Y Quynh Bdăp from Thailand to Viet Nam. His return, according to officials, raises significant risks of torture, enforced disappearance, and other grave human rights violations.
Extradition Raises Human Rights Concerns
The experts condemned the action taken by Thailand, stating, “This transfer violated the obligation of non-refoulement, which prohibits the removal of any person to a country where they may face a real and foreseeable risk of torture and other ill-treatment.” This principle applies universally, regardless of an individual’s nationality or migration status.
Bdăp is the co-founder of Montagnards Stand for Justice, an organization advocating for the rights of the Montagnard people in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam. He had been recognized as a refugee by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) since 2019 and was in the process of resettlement to a third country when he was apprehended.
On 11 June 2024, Thai Immigration Police detained Bdăp following an extradition request from Viet Nam. He had previously been convicted in absentia and sentenced to ten years in prison on charges deemed unjustified by many observers, raising considerable concerns about the fairness of his trial.
On 30 September 2024, the Bangkok Criminal Court found sufficient grounds for extradition, a decision that was upheld by the Court of Appeal on 26 November 2025. Bdăp was returned to Viet Nam on 28 November 2025, but his family and legal representatives faced significant delays in confirming his whereabouts.
International Obligations and Calls for Action
The experts highlighted that both Thailand and Viet Nam are parties to the Convention against Torture and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which impose obligations to prevent such abuses. Furthermore, Thailand is bound by its own Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act (2022), which prohibits the extradition of individuals at risk of torture or enforced disappearance.
In light of these obligations, the experts urged the Government of Viet Nam to uphold Bdăp’s rights under international law, ensuring his protection from torture and ill-treatment. They called for access to independent legal counsel and a meaningful avenue for appeal, alongside family contact and independent monitoring of his situation.
“Any detention must strictly comply with the Nelson Mandela Rules,” the experts asserted, adding that they advocate for an urgent review of Bdăp’s conviction and a right to effective appeal.
Previously, the experts had raised concerns about Bdăp’s case with both governments in 2024 and 2025. They plan to continue monitoring the situation closely and pursue further actions under their mandates.
