The ongoing repression of Uyghur Muslims in China’s Xinjiang region has been one of the gravest human rights crises of the 21st century. Reports from international organizations, investigative journalists, and testimonies from Uyghur survivors paint a grim picture of mass detentions, forced labor, sterilizations, and an extensive surveillance state targeting an entire ethnic group. Despite growing awareness, global inaction has allowed China to continue these policies with impunity. However, could Morocco—a nation known for its religious tolerance and moderate Islamic approach—play a role in offering an alternative model or even a sanctuary for the oppressed Uyghurs?
Since at least 2017, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has carried out an unprecedented crackdown on the Uyghur population under the guise of counterterrorism. The BBC has reported on so-called “re-education camps,” where over one million Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims have been detained. These facilities function as indoctrination centers where Uyghurs are forced to abandon their language, culture, and faith in favor of Han Chinese assimilation.
The scale of the repression is staggering. Uyghur women have recounted forced sterilizations and birth control procedures designed to reduce their population. Satellite imagery has revealed the destruction of mosques, cemeteries, and cultural heritage sites. Those who resist, or who have family members abroad speaking out, face swift retaliation.
Morocco’s refusal to comply with China’s demands signaled that it was willing to stand up for human rights even when political and economic pressures might dictate otherwise.
Despite mounting evidence, the response from the international community has been largely symbolic—condemnations, sanctions, and diplomatic boycotts have done little to halt the oppression. While Western nations have raised alarms, many Muslim-majority countries, including some in the Arab world, have remained silent or, worse, openly defended China’s actions.
Morocco, however, has shown a unique openness in addressing the plight of Uyghur Muslims. In a landmark decision, Morocco’s Court of Cassation overturned the deportation of Yidiresi Aishan, an Uyghur man who faced extradition to China. His case attracted international attention, as deporting him would have meant almost certain persecution.
The decision was significant not just for Aishan, but for the broader Uyghur diaspora seeking refuge. Morocco’s refusal to comply with China’s demands signaled that it was willing to stand up for human rights even when political and economic pressures might dictate otherwise. This is a sharp contrast to many Middle Eastern nations, which have repatriated Uyghurs under pressure from Beijing.
Beyond this single case, Morocco has cultivated an image as a nation of religious coexistence. It has long promoted a moderate, tolerant version of Islam, distinct from both the radical strains that have plagued parts of the region and the heavy-handed state atheism seen in China. Its religious policies, which emphasize interfaith dialogue and cohabitation, could serve as a countermodel to Beijing’s narrative that Islam must be “Sinicized” to coexist within a secular authoritarian state.
Regionally, Morocco has positioned itself as a leader in religious diplomacy. The Mohammed VI Institute for the Training of Imams has trained clerics from across Africa and Europe, promoting a message of tolerance and deradicalization. This initiative has been praised as a successful means of countering extremism while preserving Islamic identity.
For Uyghurs facing cultural genocide, Morocco’s approach offers a compelling alternative—one where Islamic practice is not only tolerated but also embraced as a key component of national identity. If Morocco were to extend protections to more Uyghur refugees or openly advocate for their rights, it could bolster its position as a leader in global religious freedom.
The Uyghur genocide remains one of the most pressing moral issues of our time, yet much of the Muslim world has chosen silence or complicity.
Of course, taking a stronger stance on Uyghur rights comes with risks. China is Morocco’s third-largest trading partner, and economic ties have deepened through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Openly confronting China could threaten these economic gains. However, Morocco has already demonstrated its ability to navigate delicate diplomatic waters, maintaining strong relations with both the West and non-Western powers while preserving its sovereignty.
A well-calibrated approach—such as offering asylum to Uyghur refugees or promoting Morocco’s religious model as a viable alternative to Chinese repression—could allow Rabat to champion human rights without provoking outright retaliation. It could also enhance Morocco’s standing among Western allies, particularly in the United States and Europe, where concern for Uyghur rights remains high.
The Uyghur genocide remains one of the most pressing moral issues of our time, yet much of the Muslim world has chosen silence or complicity. Morocco, with its legacy of religious tolerance and its recent legal decision in favor of an Uyghur refugee, has shown that another path is possible.
If Morocco takes further steps—whether by accepting more Uyghur refugees, advocating for their cause in international forums, or using its religious institutions to counter Beijing’s anti-Islamic rhetoric—it could emerge as an unexpected but powerful voice for justice in an era of global inaction.
