Thailand sentences two Uyghur men to death for 2015 shrine bombing

A Bangkok court has sentenced two Chinese Uyghur men, Bilal Mohammed and Yusufu Mieraili, to death for their involvement in the deadly 2015 Erawan Shrine bombing. The attack, which occurred at a popular shrine in the heart of Bangkok's commercial district, claimed the lives of 20 people, including seven Chinese tourists, and wounded more than 100 others.

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RIP Thailand’s justice system. I don’t accept any of this. I didn’t do anything wrong.

The court found the defendants guilty of premeditated and attempted murder, concluding they planted a bomb at the shrine, which was filled with worshippers and tourists at the time. The verdict, delivered after a lengthy trial, imposed the maximum penalty available under Thai law. The defendants were acquitted of charges related to a separate bombing at a Bangkok pier.

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The defendants committed a single act that violated multiple laws. The court therefore imposed the harshest penalty available under the law, the death sentence.

Following the verdict, Yusufu Mieraili expressed his rejection of the ruling, stating, "RIP Thailand’s justice system. I don’t accept any of this. I didn’t do anything wrong." Their lawyer, Choochat Kanpai, announced plans to appeal, citing concerns that "many aspects of the case have not been fully considered by the court, including the treatment of the defendants during the proceedings."

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will appeal the ruling because there are many aspects of the case that the court has not fully considered, including the treatment of the defendants during the proceedings.

The decade-long trial faced numerous delays, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and issues with securing translators. Speculation about the motive for the bombing arose weeks after the attack when Thailand forcibly repatriated 109 Uyghurs to China, suggesting a possible revenge plot. China's foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian welcomed the death sentences, calling the attackers "inhumane and extremely heinous" and expressing support for Thailand's legal process. The investigation itself faced criticism for its perceived lack of thoroughness after the initial arrests.

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The attackers were totally inhumane and extremely heinous. China supports Thailand in conducting the trial in accordance with the law and severely punishing the murderers.