On the 36th Anniversary of Tiananmen, Release Activists Wrongfully Detained

June 1, 2025 Comments Off

Chinese government should end its repression of June 4^th activism

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders—June 1, 2025) Ahead of the 36^th anniversary of the June 4, 1989 Tiananmen Massacre, the Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD) pays tribute to the victims and survivors and calls on the Chinese government to release those jailed for participating in or commemorating the events of 1989.

On the night of June 3-4, 1989, China’s army moved into Beijing to crush the pro-democracy demonstrations that had begun in April, firing on peaceful protesters and ordinary people. The number killed remains unknown, although estimates range from several hundred to several thousand; tens of thousands were imprisoned in the nationwide political crackdown that followed. The Chinese government has never held the perpetrators accountable and instead spent decades persecuting victims, their families, and others who sought to remember the events of June 4^th.

CHRD has documented 32 human rights defenders (HRDs) from the 1989 generation and after who are currently wrongfully detained for their activism, including commemorating Tiananmen and calling for justice. This non-exhaustive list, drawn from CHRD’s database of Prisoners of Conscience, illustrates initiatives by people across the country who challenge the Chinese government’s effort to erase Tiananmen from history.

“Not only have Chinese officials enjoyed total impunity for their 1989 crimes, they also continue to silence defenders who took part in the 1989 protests and tributes to the victims,” said Sophie Richardson, Co-Executive Director of CHRD. “But peaceful speech and remembrances are not crimes—these people should be released immediately.”

In mainland China, members of the ’89 generation that continued to advocate peacefully for human rights and democracy in China have been put in prison. Some have died due to torture and ill-treatment, including the denial of adequate medical care. Authorities criminalize paying tribute to the victims of the massacre, comforting the mothers and family members of the victims, and calling for justice. For 36 years, despite the risk of retaliation, people continue to pay tribute to those who came before them in the struggle for fundamental freedoms and human rights in China.

For decades, Hong Kong was the only part of China where activists could hold an annual vigil to commemorate the victims of the massacre. That ended after Beijing imposed a “national security” law in 2020. Dozens were jailed in government efforts to suppress the memory of Tiananmen in Hong Kong, though several vigil participants spoke defiantly in court about the importance of remembering history.

“Decades of weak international responses to the Tiananmen Massacre emboldened Chinese leaders to commit more and worse human rights crimes, from Beijing to Hong Kong to the Uyghur region,” Richardson said. “Democracies should draw inspiration from the victims and survivors of Tiananmen and pursue investigations into those widespread, systematic violations.”

Leaders of democratic governments, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and parliamentarians concerned about human rights in China should publicly mark this anniversary by calling on Chinese authorities to release these wrongfully detained activists and to cease harassment of those who try to mark the anniversary. UN Human Rights Council member states should also pursue investigations into recent and worsening human rights violations, including by holding a special session on China at the council, and to consider the appointment of a country-specific mandate to investigate human rights abuses in China.

Below are the 32 individuals CHRD has documented who are currently detained or disappeared for participating in or commemorating June 4^th:

Six from ‘89 generation jailed for continuing activism:

These veterans of the 1989 movement faced government persecution at the time or shortly after, yet continued to advocate for human rights and democracy in China and are currently imprisoned. The list is ordered by length of prison sentence.

Urumqi-based activist Zhao Haitong (赵海通) is serving a 14-year sentence, handed down in 2014, for posting online, including about June 4^th, attending rallies, and visiting other persecuted HRDs. He was jailed in the aftermath of the 1989 massacre.

China Democracy Party member Lü Gengsong (吕耿松) is serving an 11-year sentence; in 2016 he was convicted of “subversion of state power” for his pro-democracy advocacy. In 1993, Lü, then a teacher in Hangzhou, was dismissed from his job for supporting the democracy movement.

Guangdong activist Guo Feixiong (郭飞雄) is serving an eight-year sentence handed down in 2023 on charges of “inciting subversion of state power” in retaliation for his long-time activism. Guo took part in the 1989 movement as a student in Shanghai.

Artist and Falun Gong practitioner Xu Na (许那) is serving an eight-year sentence on charges of “using a cult to undermine implementation of the law for posting online about her Falun Gong beliefs and about the Covid-19 pandemic; the sentence was imposed in 2022. She participated in the 1989 student protests, including going on a hunger strike on Tiananmen Square.

Hangzhou writer and activist Xu Guang (徐光) is serving a four-year sentence, handed down in 2024, on charges of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” for his online articles and posts. In 1986 and 1989 he participated in student pro-democracy movements.

Activist and former professor Zhang Zhongshun (张忠顺) is serving a four-year sentence, imposed in 2024, on charges of “subversion” for his involvement with a group of civil rights activists. He was a student participant in the 1989 protests; in 2007, he was a professor and talked about the massacre in his class. The remarks were reported to the police, leading to a three-year sentence.

13 Mainland China defenders jailed for commemorating Tiananmen and calling for justice:

The following individuals are serving prison sentences, or held in pre-trial detention or forcibly disappeared, for speaking out about Tiananmen. The list is ordered by length of prison sentence.

Activist Zhang Haitao (张海涛) is serving a 19-year sentence in the Uyghur region on charges of “inciting subversion of state power” and “providing intelligence overseas.” Zhang was sentenced in 2015 and was punished for trying to commemorate June 4^th on the 25th anniversary of the massacre and for his online writings.

Activist Qin Yongmin (秦永敏) is serving a 13-year sentence, handed down in 2018, on charges of “subversion” for his human rights activism. In 1993, Qin publicly called for justice for victims of Tiananmen Massacre and the release of all political prisoners, for which he was sent to a re-education through labor camp for two years.

Journalist Huang Qi (黄琦) is serving a 12-year sentence on charges of “leaking” and “providing” “state secrets” overseas; he was convicted in 2019. Huang founded and ran an organization with a website named “6.4 Tianwang” to report on human rights news in the spirit of the 1989 pro-democracy movement.

Online activist Ren Jianping (任建平) is serving a 10-year sentence, imposed in 2023, on charges of “subversion” for his role setting up the “League Tearing Down the Wall” (LTDW) account on Twitter (now “X”), which encouraged users to circumvent government Internet controls and post about human rights and democracy topics, including June 4^th.

Activist Wang Yifei (王一飞) is serving a 7.5-year sentence on charges of “subversion” for his role with a group of activists that spoke out about human rights abuses. He was sentenced in 2024. Before his arrest, he called for justice for 1989 victims, and urged people to remember those who died in the June 4^th massacre.

Dissident Shao Mingliang (邵明亮) is serving a 5.5-year sentence, handed down in 2025, for “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” and “assaulting a police officer.” In 2017 Shao was detained for writing slogans about commemorating June 4^th on the front of his house.

Professor Yang Shaozheng (杨绍政) is serving a 4.5-year sentence on charges of “inciting subversion.” Yang, in jail since 2023, had in June 2019 posted information in a WeChat group about the number of student protesters killed in 1989. He was tortured by police during an interrogation.

Entrepreneurs He Bin (何斌) and Xu Caihong (徐彩虹), a married couple, are serving 4.5-year sentences on charges of “picking quarrels” for their petitioning activities. They have been jailed since 2024. Every year since 2014, He and Xu were detained or beaten by Beijing police for participating in or trying to participate in Tiananmen commemoration activities.

Activist Shi Tingfu (史庭福) is serving a three-year sentence, handed down in 2024, for “picking quarrels” after he helped petitioners from the Uyghur region. In 2017, Nanjing police detained Shi for staging a public vigil and delivering a speech about remembering the victims of the Tiananmen massacre in Nanjing on the June 4^th anniversary. Shi had provided support to the student protesters in 1989.

Activist Yu Qian (余钱) has been forcibly disappeared since October 2022 after he was arrested by Hubei police. His whereabouts remain unknown. Yu had posted online, “It is not a crime to speak out on June 4^th, but it is a crime to monitor citizens’ communications,” and challenged the government’s harsh COVID-19 policies. In 2010, Yu held a vigil and hunger strike to mark the anniversary of June 4^th and was summoned by police for questioning.

Activist Zhan Youchao (占友超) is in pre-trial detention on charges of “obstructing official business”; he has been held since September 2024. In 2019, he began a four-year sentence on charges of “picking quarrels,” and in 2018 was tortured in custody for commemorating Tiananmen anniversary by hanging banners with slogans on his car.

Activist Li Xuehui (李学惠) is in pre-trial detention on charges of “picking quarrels” as of September 2024. He allegedly posted a video online. In 2018, he was sentenced to 20 months in prison for helping a fellow petitioner make a video about a June 4^th commemoration walk.

13 Defenders in Hong Kong jailed for commemorating Tiananmen:

The following individuals have been detained in Hong Kong for taking part in the now-illegal Tiananmen vigil. This list is ordered by length of prison sentence.

Journalist Gwyneth Ho Kwai-lam (何桂蓝) is serving a seven-year sentence, handed down in 2024, on National Security Law (NSL) charges of “conspiracy to commit subversion” for taking part in an informal primary election. She had previously been jailed for six months in 2021 on “illegal assembly” charges for commemorating the June 4^th anniversary in 2020.

Former legislator Leung Kwok-hung (梁國雄), also known as “Long Hair,” is serving a six year and nine month sentence, handed down in 2024, on NSL charges of “conspiracy to commit subversion” for taking part in an informal primary election. Leung served a six-month sentence on “illegal assembly” charges for commemorating the June 4^th anniversary in 2020, and several additional sentences related to the 2019-2020 pro-democracy protests.

Business and media tycoon Jimmy Lai (黎智英) is serving a five year and nine month sentence, imposed in 2022, on baseless charges of “fraud.” In 2021 and 2020, respectively, he also served 20 months in prison on multiple charges, including a 13-month sentence on “illegal assembly” charges for commemorating the June 4^th anniversary in 2020. Lai is a longtime supporter of the 1989 pro-democracy movement. In 1989 his clothing company printed t-shirts with democracy slogans for protesters, prompting Chinese authorities to kick Lai’s companies out of the mainland. He is currently on trial on NSL charges.

Activist Joshua Wong (黄之锋) is serving a four year and eight month sentence handed down in 2024 on NSL charges of “conspiracy to commit subversion” for taking part in an informal primary election. He had previously been jailed for 10 months in 2021 on “illegal assembly” charges for commemorating the June 4^th anniversary in 2020.

Former councillor Andrew Wan Siu-kin (尹兆坚 ) is serving a four year and eight month sentence, handed down in 2024, on NSL charges of “conspiracy to commit subversion” for taking part in an informal primary election. In 2021 he spent ten months in jail on “illegal assembly” charges for commemorating the June 4^th anniversary in 2020.

Activist Lester Shum Ngo-fai (岑敖晖) is serving a four year and six month sentence on NSL charges of “conspiracy to commit subversion” for taking part in an informal primary election. In 2021 he was imprisoned for six months on “illegal assembly” charges for commemorating the June 4^th anniversary in 2020.

Former legislator Eddie Chu Hoi-dick (朱凱廸) is serving a four year and five month sentence, handed down in 2024, on NSL charges of “conspiracy to commit subversion” for taking part in an informal primary election. In 2021 he was sentenced to six months in jail on “illegal assembly” charges for commemorating the June 4^th anniversary in 2020.

Former legislator Wu Chi-wai (胡志偉) is serving a four year and five month sentence, handed down in 2024, on NSL charges of “conspiracy to commit subversion” for taking part in an informal primary election. In 2021 he was sentenced to four months and two weeks in prison on “illegal assembly” charges for commemorating the June 4^th anniversary in 2020.

Former district councillor Tiffany Yuen Ka-wai (袁嘉蔚) is serving a four year and three month sentence, handed down in 2024, on NSL charges of “conspiracy to commit subversion” for taking part in an informal primary election. In 2021 she was jailed for four months on “illegal assembly” charges for commemorating the June 4^th anniversary in 2020.

Lawyer Chow Hang-tung (邹幸彤) was jailed in 2021 for 22 months on two “illegal assembly” charges for commemorating the June 4^th anniversaries in 2020 and 2021. While already in prison in 2024, Chow was arrested for “sedition” for continuing to commemorate June 4^th. An organizer of the annual Tiananmen candlelight vigils in Hong Kong, she has been awaiting trial since 2021 on NSL charges of “inciting subversion” for her role at the group.

Former legislator Lee Cheuk-yan (李卓人) was jailed for 14 months in 2021 on “illegal assembly” charges stemming from a 2020 commemoration of June 4^th anniversary. Lee is a long-time supporter of the 1989 pro-democracy movement, and had organized a donation drive in Hong Kong and delivered the contributions to students on Tiananmen Square. A leading organizer of the annual Tiananmen candlelight vigils in Hong Kong since 1989, Lee remains in jail awaiting trial on NSL charges of “inciting subversion” for his role at the group.

Lawyer Albert Ho (何俊仁) was jailed for 10 months on “illegal assembly” charges in 2021 for commemorating the June 4^th anniversary in 2020. Ho is a longtime supporter of the 1989 movement and advocate for protection of rights lawyers on the mainland. A leading organizer of the annual Tiananmen candlelight vigils in Hong Kong, Ho is detained awaiting trial on charges of “inciting subversion” for his role at the group.

Student Zeng Yuxuan (曾雨璇) was jailed for six months in Hong Kong for planning to commemorate the Tiananmen Massacre on its eve in 2023. She was then deported to the mainland in October 2023 and has since disappeared.

CHRD also pays tribute to three HRDs who died due to torture or ill-treatment in custody:

Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo (刘晓波) died in police control in July 2017 from liver cancer. Liu had been serving an 11-year sentence since 2009 for his leading role in the “Charter 08” campaign. A university lecturer in 1989, he was jailed for 18 months for taking part in the 1989 movement.

Jiangsu writer Yang Tongyan (杨同彦) died in November 2017 from brain cancer. He had only been granted medical parole in August 2017, weeks before his death, despite his family’s years-long efforts to secure his release for medical treatment. Yang had been serving a 12-year sentence handed down in 2006 for his political activism. He was jailed from1990 to 2000 for participating in the 1989 movement.

Labor activist Li Wangyang (李旺阳) died under suspicious circumstances on June 6, 2012 while in a hospital under police surveillance in Shaoyang, Hunan province. Li, a labor leader in the 1989 democracy movement, was sentenced to a total of 23 years in prison between 1989 and 2012. Against the wishes of Li’s family, Hunan authorities conducted an autopsy without independent experts present and then cremated his body.

For more information, please contact:

Sophie Richardson, Co-Executive Director, Chinese Human Rights Defenders, sophierichardson@nchrd.org, +1 917 721 7473

Shane Yi, Researcher, Chinese Human Rights Defenders, shaneyi@nchrd.org