A Uyghur man gains his freedom after more than three years of unjust imprisonmentby Ruth IngramIdris Hasan (right) arriving at Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia, on February 14, 2025, with Omer Kanat, executive director of the Uyghur Human Rights Project (left). Courtesy of Uyghur Human Rights Project.Idris Hasan is free at last.After one thousand, three hundred and seven days in a fetid Moroccan prison cell crushed daily by despair and dread of what the future might hold, Uyghur Idris Hasan is now in a third country, breathing the fresh air of liberty.Arrested on arrival at Casablanca airport in July 2021 at the behest of Beijing as he was on his way to start a new life in Europe, Moroccan authorities chose to honour a Red Interpol Notice issued by the superpower ordering his detention and demanding his return to China to face trial for terrorism-related crimes.For three and a half years thoughts of his likely forcible return to his homeland to face trial for offenses he repeatedly denied, and for which the superpower could provide no evidence, were his constant companion. Despite Beijing’s subsequent failure to justify its allegations of terrorism against Hasan, or present any material proof, he was locked in a cell, the hapless victim of a squabble between his captors and the Chinese state a continent away. One of the many family protests in Istanbul pleading for the release of their father.Back row, mother, Zeynure, and front row, Idris’ three children, Nefise, Uyghuray annd Abdulkerim asking for help to bring their father home. Photo credit: Zeynure Wubuli.Finally after years of frantic back room negotiations involving lawyers and human rights campaigners, not a few eleventh hour reprieves, and nail biting delays as Idris hovered between hope and despair, he was inexplicably released into the hands of the USA on February 12th this year.Idris Hasan’s story began in 2013, when he and his new wife Zeynure arrived in Turkey. They had read the writing on the wall in their homeland, the Uyghur region of China, where open expressions of their Muslim faith were increasingly not welcome, and decided to start afresh in Istanbul. On arrival they were given a two-year, renewable humanitarian visa and Idris set up a small graphic design firm called Shabnam—Uyghur for “Dew”—and began to publish, with friends, a newsletter of the same name filled with useful information for their community of exiles.Problems started in 2014, when Idris applied for Turkish permanent residence for his family. Local police detained him, pressured, Zeynure said, by China, where authorities claimed he was a national security threat. After two weeks, Idris was released, but for the next seven years, he was detained repeatedly without explanation, often for months at a time. Their family was growing and soon they had three children, Abdulkerim born in 2013, Nefise, born in 2016, and Uyghuray, born in 2019. Idris, with daughter Nefise during happier times. Photo credit: Zeynure Wubuli.Uncertainty over their future was becoming unbearable and by 2021, the stress had become too great. Idris bought a ticket to Morocco that required no visa, hoping that from there he could get to Europe and build a life free from China’s global influence for Zeynure and their young children.But disaster struck on landing in Casablanca when Idris felt the full weight of an Interpol Red Notice; an international mechanism intended to find and retrieve bona fide criminals fleeing justice in their own lands, but which has been found to have been misused by states such as Russia and China to rein in those deemed enemies of the state, often with very little proof of criminality. “Bitter Winter” has spoken to Hasan’s wife Zeynure on several occasions over the years since his arrest and witnessed the despair and heartache first hand of a wife struggling to cope on her own to bring up children pining for their father. Zeynure, Idris Hasan’s wife, at home in Istanbul with her youngest daughter, Uyghuray. Photo by Ruth Ingram.Desperation filled their three times a week, 10 minute phone calls allowed by Tiflet prison but paid for by Zeynure from her meagre income, composed solely of gifts from well wishers and Uyghur rights groups. “When will I be released? Any news from the lawyers? What’s going on? and “What happens if they send me back to China?” he asked his wife repeatedly. But looking for the answers to those very questions herself, she had none.Raised hopes, repeatedly dashed, filled their waking and often sleeping hours. His case consumed Zeynure. Boxes filled with files of papers related to his case grew by the day. The family would regularly stand in protest outside the Moroccan consulate carrying home made signs asking “Where is my father?” pleading “Please help us.” The more she bothered the Moroccan government, the more difficult it became for her husband at its mercy in Tiflet prison.“I knocked on every door I could think of,” said Zeynure, who was often met with disinterest or silence at every turn. The cogs of justice were turning painfully slowly, if at all, and her hopelessness grew as days and weeks stretched into years. Sometimes, the family stood alone with their placards and often they were supported by members of the Uyghur community, many of whom themselves had sought refuge in Turkey from the mass arrests and internments that were gathering momentum in the Uyghur region from 2016 onwards.She knew that human rights groups had taken up her cause but despite their best efforts there seemed to be no movement and calls to her husband became increasingly worrying. “I didn’t know what to say to him anymore,” she said. “I worried so much about him. He was depressed and frightened that he had been forgotten.” The injustice of his case frustrated and disturbed her. “There have never been any facts presented and the Chinese government offered no evidence. My husband is not a terrorist and has committed no crime in China.”Idris Hasan’s family making the best of things as they wait for news of their father. Front Uyghuray, left Abdulkerim, and right Nefise with mother Zeynure. Photo by Ruth Ingram.Several human rights groups took up Idris’ case. Laura Harth of Safeguard Defenders, speaking to “Bitter Winter” said she “welcomed” his release . She said that her organization together with MENA (the Middle East and North Africa Human Rights Group) had been monitoring his situation and advocating for his freedom since his initial arrest in July 2021. “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,” she said. Morocco complied with the CAT’s request not to extradite him, but regardless, Idris remained detained in Tiflet prison for three more years. Finally in July 2024 the CAT called on Morocco not to extradite him and to release him in the absence of charges. Speaking to ‘Bitter Winter,” Laura Harth said that she was “pleased to announce” his release on February 12, 2025, “in compliance with the CAT’s decision.” “After three years and seven months in what may amount to arbitrary detention, Hasan is now safe and no longer at risk of extradition,” she said.“We welcome this important development, and we extend our sincere gratitude to all those who have accompanied Hasan through this long and arduous journey,” she said.Abduweli Ayup, founder of Norwegian-based Uyghuryar foundation (also known as Uyghur Hjelp), a non profit Uyghur human rights advocacy group, said his organization was one of many that collaborated behind the scenes to see Idris’ release. “The embassies of the UK, Canada and the USA also worked very hard, together with the UN that agreed in the end to give Idris refugee status in Morocco, enabling his settlement in the States,” he said. The family, cast adrift financially had also been supported by Uyghur groups including the Uyghur Human Rights Project, Uyghur Hjelp and the MMH (Make My Home) charity founded by Uyghur Nadira Yusuf in Melbourne.“Idris’ case was very problematic,” said Ayup, explaining that China had produced 90 pages of accusations against him. “There was strong pressure from China on Morocco,” he said, “but in the end justice was won.”There are many Uyghurs around the world unjustly imprisoned and Ayup is hopeful that many will be released. The “brave” testimony of Zeynure, Idris’ wife, played a large part in the campaign for his release, said Ayup. “Without her commitment we could not have done anything.”UK-based Human Rights Watch China Researcher Yalkun Uluyol, speaking to “Bitter Winter” said that Idris’ safe arrival to the United States “is a celebratory momentum against China’s transnational repression targeting Uyghurs across the globe,” referring to Beijing’s relentless pursuit of expatriate Uyghurs and their families back in the homeland. “Now it is time for Idris to be with his long-separated wife and children. The US government should help them to be reunited as soon as possible,” he said.Another image of the family. Left to right Abdulkerim, Nefise, Uyghuray, and Zeynure. Photo by Ruth Ingram.Rahima Mahmut, Executive Director of Stop Uyghur Genocide (SUG) spoke to “Bitter Winter” of her “relief” and “happiness” hearing of Idris’ release. She had spent the past three and a half years “worrying that the Moroccan government might send him back.” She praised the efforts by many groups working publicly and behind the scenes that tried to get governments to put pressure on Morocco not to “kowtow to China”. “And we all know he is an innocent man who has done nothing wrong. He is not a criminal and should not have been detained in Morocco at all,” she said. “He is simply a victim of this extreme form of trans national repression. I’m just so glad that this has all come to an end. It’s like a happy ending. I really hope that he can be reunited with his wife and children and lead a new life.” “The Uyghur community are very, very happy that he is now safe. For us we don’t often hear good news.”While celebrating Idris’ freedom, Rahima said she will still be worried about the Uyghur detainees awaiting trial in a Thai jail for the past 11 years until they are settled in a free country. “This is a constant worry for me,” she said. “When we hear they are going to be deported it makes my heart sink.”“Every little victory is a big milestone for us,” she said. “And hopefully the Uyghurs in Thailand will be free soon as well.” Idris’ wife Zeynure spoke to “Bitter Winter” of her joy now that the ordeal of the past 43 months has come to an end. “I don’t know how to express my happiness today, and my gratitude to all those who have helped me all this time. The list of people to thank is endless and I will never be able to repay all the kindness I have experienced from people all over the world,” she said, adding special thanks to Safeguard Defenders and Uyghuryar who have “stood by me all the way.”The post Morocco Finally Frees Uyghur Dissident Idris Hasan first appeared on Bitter Winter.