China confirmed Thailand deported 40 Chinese nationals on Thursday, despite human rights organizations and members of the U.S. government called on Bangkok to not repatriate the Uyghur Muslims.

Human rights groups warned that the Uyghurs, who were held in Bangkok for more than a decade, will face mistreatment from Chinese authorities back in Xinjiang.

Rights advocates had said the Uyghurs, a persecuted Muslim minority in China, were “at real risk” of torture, imprisonment or even death if they were returned.

Thailand's premier said on Thursday international standards and human rights principles must be followed, responding to activists' concerns that 48 Uyghurs held in the country for more than a decade had been secretly deported to China.

International standards and human rights principles must be followed, Thailand's prime minister said on Thursday, in response to concerns aired by activists that 48 Uyghurs held for more than a decade had been secretly deported to China.