Artist known for sculptures of Mao Zedong jailed for slandering ‘heroes and martyrs’
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By Danny Vincent in Taipei
Originally published by The Guardian on August 26, 2026
Gao Zhen sentenced to three years in prison after already spending two years in detention
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/25/artist-gao-zhen-sculptures-mao-zedong-jailed-china
Gao Zhen, a prominent Chinese artist known for provocative sculptures of the former leader Mao Zedong, has been sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty of slandering China’s “heroes and martyrs”. The sentencing came two years after he was detained while visiting the country with his family, according to his wife and human rights groups.
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Sophie Richardson, a longtime China human rights campaigner, said: “Gao has been prosecuted for conduct that has never been criminal, and his family has endured collective punishment at the hands of the authorities, and that is criminal.”
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