Chinese Human Rights Defenders |

Political Prisoner Yang Maodong's Health Deteriorating, Family Seek Urgent Action to Save His Life

The health of imprisoned activist Yang Maodong (杨茂东) has worsened to the point where his life may be in danger without prompt and proper medical treatment.

Alerts & Statements / Slide Show • Apr 29, 2016

Political Prisoner Yang Maodong’s Health Deteriorating, Family Seek Urgent Action to Save His Life

The health of imprisoned activist Yang Maodong (杨茂东) has worsened to the point where his life may be in danger without prompt and proper medical treatment, according to his sister. Her alarming observations come less than a month after CHRD sent an update to UN human rights experts about Yang’s poor physical condition. His family are calling on Chinese authorities to release Yang, who has been imprisoned in violation of his rights to free expression and assembly, and allow him to access necessary medical treatment from a doctor of his own choosing.

China: Repeal Overseas NGO Law & Protect Freedom of Association

The new law governing foreign NGOs in China will place tight controls on their operations, and in turn continue to gut civil society groups in the mainland. (image: Flickr- Beijing Patrol: https://www.flickr.com/photos/securityguard/3679616585/)

Alerts & Statements / Slide Show • Apr 28, 2016

China: Repeal Overseas NGO Law & Protect Freedom of Association

CHRD denounces the Chinese government’s adoption of a law governing overseas NGOs that will have a profoundly detrimental impact on China’s civil society. The law passed China’s rubber-stamp legislature on April 28 despite critical international responses to the most recent draft. The adopted version appears to retain the previous draft’s most troubling elements, particularly by giving police vast powers over how foreign-based groups can operate in China. Once the law takes effect, it will further obstruct the work of such NGOs and suffocate the country’s already beleaguered independent groups.

[CHRB] China Must Release 5 Activists on Trial: Cases Marred by Abuses (4/13-21/2016)

Five HRDs put on trial within one week (clockwise from bottom left): Yuan Xiaohua, Yuan Bing, Su Changlan, Liu Shaoming, and Chen Qitang.

China Human Rights Briefings / Slide Show • Apr 21, 2016

[CHRB] China Must Release 5 Activists on Trial: Cases Marred by Abuses (4/13-21/2016)

Four detained human rights defenders have been tried since April 15, and a fifth is facing trial on April 22. All have spent lengthy periods of time in detention without seeing a judge, including two who have been held for almost three years. The activists—Liu Shaoming, Yuan Bing, Yuan Xiaohua, Su Changlan, and Chen Qitang—were seized after posting essays, messages, or photos of a “politically sensitive” nature online, or taking part in peaceful demonstrations. Their cases have been marred by abuses of due process rights that have become common in crackdowns under President Xi Jinping. CHRD asks for their unconditional release.

[CHRB] What You Need to Know About Last Week’s Prison Sentences & Xi Jinping’s 2014 Crackdowns (4/1-4/12, 2016)

Six rights defenders were sentenced on April 8, given punishments of 18 months to four-and-a-half years for “inciting subversion.”

China Human Rights Briefings / Slide Show • Apr 13, 2016

[CHRB] What You Need to Know About Last Week’s Prison Sentences & Xi Jinping’s 2014 Crackdowns (4/1-4/12, 2016)

Prison sentences recently given to six human right defenders are reminders of ongoing arbitrary detentions and relentless persecution of dissent in China under Xi Jinping’s rule. The six activists were convicted on April 8 of “inciting subversion of state power” in Guangdong and Hubei, and sentenced to terms of between 18 months and four-and-a-half years. The convictions bring to 16 the number of sentenced rights defenders who were first detained in two separate crackdowns in 2014—the suppression around the 25-year June Fourth anniversary and then the police action against mainlanders who showed support for the pro-democracy protests going on in Hong Kong.

Portraits of Defenders / Slide Show • Mar 13, 2016

Deprivation of Liberty and Torture/Other Mistreatment of Human Rights Defenders in China (Partial data 01/01/2012 to 12/31/2015)

CHRD has released partial data on human rights defenders (HRDs) who have been detained or subjected to torture and other forms of mistreatment since January 1, 2012. Compiling information through December 31, 2015, the data include records on approximately 704 new cases from 2015. The data is based on reports by human rights organizations working within China. The entire list of data, which is maintained on a regular basis, has information on more than 2,700 cases.

China: Forced TV Confessions Violate Principle of Presumed Innocence Before Trial, Constitute Cruel & Degrading Punishment

CHRD is calling for an end to state-televised "confessions" in China, such as ones aired this year of rights lawyer Zhang Kai (张凯) and bookseller Gui Minhai (桂敏海), a Swedish citizen.

Alerts & Statements • Mar 12, 2016

China: Forced TV Confessions Violate Principle of Presumed Innocence Before Trial, Constitute Cruel & Degrading Punishment

CHRD calls on Chinese authorities to stop “trying” criminal suspects in the “court of public opinion” by broadcasting their “confessions” on state TV, as the practice violates Chinese law and international human rights norms. The “confessors” have not been granted due process rights, and are essentially seen as “guilty” by the public without a trial. It is widely suspected these “confessions” involve coercion or perhaps torture, since individuals have not had access to lawyers before “confessing.” Chinese authorities should be held to account for violating rights of the “confessors,” and those who remain in custody should be freed.

“Too Risky to Call Ourselves Defenders”: Annual Report on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders in China (2015)

Among the Chinese HRDs persecuted in 2015 (clockwise from top left): activist Wu Gan (吴淦), activist Su Changlan (苏昌兰), rights lawyer Pu Zhiqiang (浦志强), NGO director He Xiaobo (何晓波), rights lawyer Wang Yu (王宇), and activist Tang Jingling (唐荆陵).

Alerts & Statements • Feb 16, 2016

“Too Risky to Call Ourselves Defenders”: Annual Report on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders in China (2015)

In 2015, Chinese authorities’ persecution of human rights defenders followed a trajectory of increasing severity that has become a hallmark of President Xi Jinping’s leadership, says CHRD in its annual report, “Too Risky to Call Ourselves Defenders”: 2015 Annual Report on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders in China. Government authorities escalated assaults on fundamental human rights such as freedom of assembly, association, and expression, while HRDs continued to be subjected to torture.

Individuals Affected by July 9 Crackdown on Rights Lawyers

Lawyers held in the police raid starting on July 9-10 include (clockwise from upper left): Bao Longjun (包龙军), Wang Yu (王宇), Zhou Shifeng (周世锋), Sui Muqing (隋牧青) Huang Liqun (黄力群), Wang Quanzhang (王全璋)

Focus Campaigns / Slide Show / Tracking Crackdowns • Jul 13, 2015

Individuals Affected by July 9 Crackdown on Rights Lawyers

Massive police operations targeting human right lawyers and coordinated by the Ministry of Public Security began on July 9 across China. The following is a list of detentions, including “residential surveillance” in unknown locations, disappearances (police custody in unknown location for more than 24 hours), and those released after summons for questioning or brief detention. The list will be constantly updated.

Watch List of Detainees and Prisoners of Conscience in Need of Medical Attention

Liu Ping (left) and Chen Xi (right) suffer from illness and have not received adequate medical care in prison.

Focus Campaigns / Slide Show • Jun 24, 2014

Watch List of Detainees and Prisoners of Conscience in Need of Medical Attention

CHRD launched the Medical Watch List on June 26 to mark the UN’s International Day of Support of Victims of Torture. There are 15 cases of currently detained or imprisoned individuals who suffer from deteriorating health and have been deprived of adequate medical treatment and denied release on medical grounds. Some of them are experiencing the same pattern of abuse that led to the death of Cao Shunli—a lack of access to adequate medical treatment in custody, a gradual decline of health and development of new illnesses or injuries from torture, and rejection of requests for medical release. CHRD will be updating this list on a regular basis.

RESEARCH REPORTS More

PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE View List

Zhou Shifeng (周世锋)

Lawyer Zhou Shifeng, the director of Beijing Fengrui Law Firm, was detained in July 2015 during a nationwide crackdown on human rights lawyers that particularly targeted his firm. Police initially took Zhou into custody on July 10 at a hotel in Songzhuang, on the outskirts of Beijing, where Zhou had gone to welcome the release...

Xing Qingxian (幸清贤)

Chengdu-based activist Xing Qingxian disappeared on October 6, 2015, in Mong La, Myanmar, along with fellow activist Tang Zhishun (唐志顺) and Bao Zhuoxuan (包卓轩), the 16-year old son of detained lawyers Wang Yu (王宇) and Bao Longjun (包龙军).

Li Heping (李和平)

Li Heping 李和平 Crime: Subversion of state power Length of Punishment: N/A Court: N/A Trial Date: N/A Sentencing Date: N/A Dates of Detention/Arrest: July 10, 2015 (disappeared); January 8, 2016 (arrested) Place of Incarceration: Tianjin No. 1 Detention Center “The past ten years, I’ve struggled with him, argued and fought, and asked him not to...

Wang Yu (王宇)

Wang Yu 王宇 Crime: Subversion of state power Length of Punishment: N/A Court: N/A Trial Date: N/A Sentencing Date: N/A Dates of Detention/Arrest: July 9, 2015 (detained); January 8, 2016 (arrested) Place of Incarceration: Tianjin No. 1 Detention Center Background “She is a brave, forthright, selfless human rights lawyer. Most of the time she is on the...

In the Press

Profile: President Xi Jinping

Apr 29, 2016 ⋅ Originally published by The National on April 2, 2016 WHAT’S THE STORY? AN anonymous letter calling on the president of China to resign has switched a spotlight on his increasing intolerance of dissent. Already drawing criticism for his restrictive policies on free speech, President Xi Jinping’s response to the letter is being seen as a sign...

In the Press

Tribunal chino condena a cárcel a 4 activistas por apoyar protestas Hong Kong

Apr 29, 2016 ⋅ Originally published by Terra on April 8, 2016 Un tribunal del sur de China condenó hoy a cárcel a cuatro activistas por su apoyo a la conocida como la “revolución de los paraguas”, las históricas protestas prodemocracia que se vivieron en Hong Kong a finales de 2014 y que pusieron en una delicada situación al régimen....

In the Press

Court in China’s Guangdong Tries Another Online Commentator For Subversion

Apr 29, 2016 ⋅ Originally published by Radio Free Asia on April 22, 2016 Authorities in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong on Friday tried the latest in a string of next-generation rights activists for subversion after he posted a number of political essays online. Chen Qitang, better known by his pseudonym Tian Li, stood trial at the Foshan Intermediate...

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