Thai court sentences two men to death for 2015 Bangkok shrine bombing
A Thai court has sentenced two men from China's Uyghur minority to death for the 2015 bombing at the Erawan shrine in Bangkok, which killed 20 and injured over 120. The verdict raises concerns about the fairness of the investigation and trial.
A court in Thailand has handed down death sentences to two men convicted of carrying out the country's deadliest terrorist attack. The bombing occurred on August 17, 2015, at the Erawan shrine in central Bangkok, a popular tourist destination. Twenty people were killed and more than 120 injured.
The convicted men, both from China's Uyghur minority, pleaded not guilty throughout the ten-year trial. Their lawyer stated they will appeal the verdict. The case has been marred by criticism of the police investigation and trial procedures. Human rights groups, including the International Commission of Jurists, highlighted human rights violations and systemic deficiencies in Thailand's criminal justice system.
The prosecution relied on phone records that allegedly placed the two men near the scene and showed they were communicating at the time of the blast. However, the defendants claimed they were tortured into confessing during military custody and later retracted their statements. The trial faced prolonged delays, partly due to difficulties in finding a Uyghur-speaking translator.
Despite these issues, the court ruled that the evidence was sufficient to convict. The defense plans to appeal.
