Alert: Chinese authorities target writer, artist for critical cultural expression
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Du Bin held in Beijing on “picking quarrels” charges while Gao Zhen trial in limbo
(Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders—December 17, 2025) Chinese authorities are arbitrarily detaining an artist and a writer in retaliation for artwork and books critical of the government. The laws invoked in both cases violate the Chinese government’s obligations under international human rights law.
Officers from Gaoliying Police Station in Shunyi District, Beijing detained filmmaker and writer Du Bin on October 15, the day before he planned to travel to Japan. He is being held on charges of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” at Shunyi Detention Center in Beijing. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has called on the Chinese government to repeal this vaguely-worded offense, which is often used to arbitrarily detain human rights defenders and others critical of the government. The charges appear to stem from authorities’ perception that Du Bin’s books “attacked national leaders.”
Du Bin was reportedly formally arrested, though his family has not received a written notification of his detention or arrest. Chinese law requires authorities to provide such information within 24 hours.
Du Bin previously worked for Chinese state media and as a freelancer for the New York Times. In 2013, he produced the documentary, “Above the Ghosts’ Heads: The Women of Masanjia Labor Camp,” which exposed torture at a “re-education through labor” camp, part of a system of arbitrary detention facilities authorities abolished in 2013. He has written several books about political topics, including Tiananmen Massacre, published in 2014 in Hong Kong, and historical accounts of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that were published in Taiwan. He was previously detained in 2013 and 2020, though released on both occasions after 37 days, the limit under Chinese law to hold a suspect before formally charging them.
Similarly, Sanhe City Police in Hebei Province detained the prominent artist Gao Zhen in August 2024. He has been formally indicted and is awaiting trial on charges of “slandering China’s heroes and martyrs” in relation to artwork he produced with his brother in 2009 that was critical of the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong. He is currently being held at Sanhe City Detention Center.
The 2018 Heroes and Martyrs Protection Law arbitrarily criminalizes expression critical of the government and CCP, in violation of the Chinese constitution and of multiple international human rights treaties to which China is a party.
Gao had moved to the United States in 2022, but had returned to China with his wife and son to visit a family member in 2024 and was detained three months after their arrival. Authorities have arbitrarily banned his wife Zhao Yaliang and their seven-year-old son, a citizen of the United States, from leaving China.
The right to freedom of expression is guaranteed by China’s constitution and international human rights law. Both Du Bin and Gao Zhen appear to be detained solely in relation to their exercise of this right, and in violation of their rights to fair trials. Authorities should immediately and unconditionally drop the charges against Du Bin and Gao Zhen and release them. Authorities should also end their baseless exit ban on Gao’s family members, and repeal laws that violate international legal obligations.
For more information, please contact:
Sophie Richardson, Co-Executive Director, Chinese Human Rights Defenders, sophierichardson[at]nchrd.org, +1 917 721 7473
Angeli Datt, Research and Advocacy Coordinator, Chinese Human Rights Defenders, angelidatt[at]nchrd.org, +1 934 444 6155
Shane Yi, Researcher, Chinese Human Rights Defenders, shaneyi[at]nchrd.org