We, MENA Rights Group and Safeguard Defenders, welcome the recent release of Yidiresi Aishan (also known as Idris Hassan), a Uyghur activist who faced extradition from Morocco to China following his arrest in 2021.
Our organisations jointly monitored Aishan’s case and advocated for his freedom since he was arrested in July 2021 on the basis of an abusive Red Notice issued by INTERPOL at China’s request.
Fearing that he would be at serious risk of torture if extradited to China, we submitted a request for interim measures to the UN Committee against Torture (CAT) in December 2021, citing a possible violation of the principle of non-refoulement by Morocco.
While Morocco refrained from proceeding with his extradition, in compliance with the CAT’s request for interim measures, Aishan remained detained in Tiflet prison pending the Committee’s final decision on the case.
Prompted by our request, in July 2024, the CAT issued a decision on Aishan’s case, calling on Morocco not to extradite him and to release him in the absence of charges.
Today, we are pleased to announce that Aishan was finally released on February 12, 2025, in compliance with the CAT’s decision.
After 3 years and 7 months in what may amount to arbitrary detention, Aishan is now safe and no longer at risk of extradition.
We welcome this important development, and we extend our sincere gratitude to all those who have accompanied Aishan through this long and arduous journey.
We kindly ask his privacy and that of his family be respected at this time.
