China Sentences Dissident Artist Gao Zhen To Three Years Over Satirical Mao Sculptures
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Originally published by Arise News on August 25, 2026
Chinese dissident artist Gao Zhen has been sentenced to three years in prison over satirical sculptures depicting former leader Mao.
Chinese dissident artist Gao Zhen has been sentenced to three years in prison over artworks satirising former Chinese leader Mao Zedong, drawing condemnation from his family and human rights groups and renewed concerns over artistic freedom in China
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Shane Yi of Chinese Human Rights Defenders urged Beijing to free Gao, saying he was being prosecuted for artworks made long before the legislation cited in his case took effect.
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Yi criticised authorities for applying the legislation to Gao’s earlier artwork and for holding a closed-door trial that excluded members of his family.