Jason | Chinese Human Rights Defenders

China: Pastor to Stand Trial on Bogus “Illegal Business Operations” Charge

April 22, 2026 Comments Off

(Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders—April 22, 2026) The Pingyang County Court in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, is scheduled to try Pastor Huang Yizi on April 24, 2026. Pastor Huang is charged with conducting “illegal business operations,” according to a court notice published by the Chinese-language website Rights Defense Network.

Chinese Artist Gao Zhen Tried Over “Defamation of National Heroes” Charge

April 20, 2026 Comments Off

His wife, Zhao Yaliang, and Shane Yi from the Chinese Human Rights Defenders group said the trial was held on Monday at a court in Sanhe City, Hebei province, near Beijing. The proceedings were conducted behind closed doors and ended without a verdict, based on information from Gao’s lawyers.

Art on trial – a sculptor’s arrest highlights new extremes for censorship in China

April 19, 2026 Comments Off

“Artists and writers have long been in the Chinese government’s crosshairs – but the authorities are now extending that reach beyond physical borders,” says Sophie Richardson, a spokesperson for the Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders advocacy group.

UN human rights office raises concern around trial of Chinese dissident artist

April 15, 2026 Comments Off

GENEVA, April 15 (Reuters) – The United Nations human rights office on Wednesday said it was concerned by the trial of Chinese dissident artist Gao Zhen, famous ‌for making provocative satirical sculptures of former leader Mao Zedong.

China: Release Activist and End Deprivation of Medical Care in Detention

April 15, 2026 Comments Off

(Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders—April 15, 2026) Hubei authorities should release activist Yin Dengzhen from Wuhan Women’s Prison and ensure she receives adequate medical treatment. Yin is serving a 4.5-year prison sentence and is suffering from lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes), which was diagnosed in December 2024. Her (read more…)

中国：当局必须在刑满后释放被任意拘留的人权律师余文生，并确保其充分自由

April 9, 2026 Comments Off

人权律师余文生预计将于4月13日获释，此前他因莫须有的“煽动颠覆国家政权罪”服刑3年。我们，以下署名的民间社会组织，对其人身状况深表关切。我们敦促中国当局确保余文生在刑满后立即获释，允许他与其在北京的家人团聚，并且能够自由行使人权。

China: Authorities Must Release Arbitrarily Detained Human Rights Lawyer Yu Wensheng at the End of His Sentence and Ensure His Full Freedom

April 9, 2026 Comments Off

Human rights lawyer Yu Wensheng is expected to be released on 13 April after completing a three-year sentence following his baseless conviction for “inciting subversion of state power”. We, the undersigned civil society organizations, are deeply concerned about his wellbeing. We urge Chinese authorities to ensure that Yu Wensheng is (read more…)

China: Authorities Wrongfully ProsecutePublisher, Blogger

April 8, 2026 Comments Off

(Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders—April 8, 2026) Two recent cases highlight Chinese authorities’ ongoing criminalization of free expression. On March 24, 2026, a Beijing court sentenced publisher Tu Jincan to three years and six months in prison for “illegal business operations.” In February, in Anhui Province, a court tried (read more…)

Legal and human rights organisations condemn the conviction of Chinese human rights lawyer Xie Yang

April 2, 2026 Comments Off

The undersigned organisations express deep concern over the conviction of human rights lawyer Xie Yang on 23 March 2026, sentencing him to five years’ imprisonment for “inciting subversion of state power.” We urge the Chinese authorities to quash the conviction and drop the charges, as they stem solely from his (read more…)

Dissident artist on trial in China for satirical Mao sculptures, rights group says

March 31, 2026 Comments Off

BEIJING — Chinese dissident artist Gao Zhen, famous for making provocative satirical sculptures of former leader Mao Zedong, was tried Monday on accusations of “defaming national heroes and martyrs,” his wife and a rights group said.

Chinese Artist Gao Zhen Faces Closed-Door Trial for Satirical Mao Sculptures

March 31, 2026 Comments Off

Chinese artist Gao Zhen, known for his irreverent sculptures of Mao Zedong, is facing a closed-door trial in China on charges of ‘defaming revolutionary martyrs.’ Gao, who has been detained for over a year and a half, could face up to 3 years in prison if convicted. The case highlights (read more…)

The secret trial of a Chinese artist accused of mocking Mao Zedong

March 31, 2026 Comments Off

A Chinese artist known for his provocative and irreverent sculptures of Mao Zedong is facing trial on suspicion of slandering the country’s heroes in a case underlining how little criticism is allowed under China’s leader, Xi Jinping.