Morocco Reverses Uyghur Muslim Man’s Deportation Decision

Morocco overturned a deportation verdict targeting a member of the Uygur Muslim minority, who is wanted in China, on Thursday.

The case of Yidiresi Aishan made headlines in 2021 after Moroccan police arrested him when he arrived in Casablanca from Turkiye under an Interpol arrest warrant.

Morocco initially agreed to deport him to China, which launched an international arrest against Aishan.

However, a court in Rabat overturned the decision on Thursday.

Miloud Kandil, Aishan’s lawyer confirmed the news on Thursday to AFP, saying that the Uyghur man has left Morocco, with reports suggesting that he traveled to the US.
The Chinese government accused him of allegedly committing terrorist acts in 2017, but Aishan has been denying the claims.

Human rights experts around the world, including in Morocco, have been pleading with the government to halt the extradition of the Uyghur activist.

President of National Council for Human Rights (CNDH) Amina Bouayach sent a letter to the Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, in 2021, calling for the halt of the deportation.

UN human rights experts also expressed their concerns over Idris’s extradition to China, stressing that the activist is likely to face arbitrary detention, forced disappearance, torture, or other inhumane and degrading treatments.