China: Quash Wrongful Sentence of Beijing Bridge Protester

July 8, 2025 Comments Off

Peng Lifa forcibly disappeared for years before given lengthy sentence in secret

(Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders—July 8, 2025) Sources yesterday reported that Peng Lifa, who has been forcibly disappeared for more than two years, has now been handed a sentence of nine years on charges including “arson” and “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.” Peng was detained on October 13, 2022, after hanging banners on a Beijing bridge criticizing Xi Jinping.

“Peng’s so-called ‘crime’ was nothing more than expressing views Chinese authorities don’t like, but Chinese and international law guarantee free speech. This sentence is an indictment not of Peng Lifa, but of Xi Jinping’s profoundly politicized legal system,” said Sophie Richardson, Co-Executive Director of CHRD.

While CHRD has not been able to independently confirm the sentence, we believe the account that reported the sentence is credible and the original source’s identity has been protected for security reasons. According to the account which reported the news, Peng Lifa was convicted on an unknown date of multiple charges including “arson” and “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” a charge commonly used against human rights activists, and moved to an unknown prison two months ago to serve his nine-year sentence.

Peng Lifa had staged a solo protest from the Sitong Bridge in Beijing, peacefully expressing his dissent about the government’s Covid-19 lockdown and the anti-democratic rule of Xi Jinping, before being dragged away by police. Peng subsequently vanished into police custody with his whereabouts and the nature of his detention unknown. Authorities have not publicly responded to calls made at the UN Human Rights Council by governments calling for Mr. Peng’s release.

His October 2022 bridge protest inspired many people in China and around the world. A month later, thousands took to the streets in 31 cities across China to demand the dismantling of the government’s draconian Zero-Covid control measures and called for freedom and democracy. This wave of protests subsequently became known as the “Blank Paper” Movement.

“Authorities should immediately release Mr. Peng. In the meantime, they must also clarify Mr. Peng’s location and the details of the criminal case and ensure he has access to his family and a lawyer of his own choice,” said Richardson.

For more information, please contact:

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

Angeli Datt, Research and Advocacy Coordinator, Chinese Human Rights Defenders, angelidatt@nchrd.org, +1 934 444 6155

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