After 43 months in a Moroccan prison, Uyghur activist Idris Hasan is finally free. On February 12, 2025, Moroccan authorities released him, and two days later, he arrived safely in the United States. His freedom follows years of international campaigning against his wrongful detention and the threat of extradition to China.
Background: A politically motivated arrest
In July 2021, Moroccan authorities arrested Idris Hasan at Casablanca’s airport based on a request from China. He was accused of terrorism, but in reality, his only “crime” was documenting human rights abuses against Uyghurs. Interpol quickly canceled the red notice against him, but Morocco still approved his extradition to China—where he would have faced imprisonment, torture, or worse.
Despite widespread warnings that returning him to China would violate international law, Moroccan authorities kept him in detention for more than three years. During this time, activists worldwide campaigned to stop his extradition and demand his release.
A hard-won victory
On February 12, 2025, Idris Hasan was released and transferred to the UN refugee agency in Morocco. Soon after, he was resettled in the United States, where he reunited with supporters.
His wife, Zaynura Hasan, shared this message with Amnesty International:
“Thank you all very much; without your help, we could not have saved my husband. God bless you all… Most people had no hope, but defenders of human rights like you fought for him—and he was finally saved.”
Idris Hasan’s case is a powerful reminder of the dangers Uyghur activists face. Amnesty International will keep pushing governments to protect Uyghurs at risk of persecution and uphold their human rights commitments.
Thank you for taking action and making this victory possible!
