Sydney | Chinese Human Rights Defenders

[CHRB] Rule Without Law: Prolonged Pre-Trial Detentions of Human Rights Defenders (1/23-29, 2015)

January 29, 2015 Comments Off

During a string of crackdowns since the spring of 2013, CHRD has documented an alarming number of excessive pre-trial detentions of human rights defenders (HRDs), who were not brought in front of a judge after having been in police custody for at least eight months, and with some held for (read more…)

Chinese Activist Denied Lawyer, Family Visits, Health Status Unknown

January 23, 2015 Comments Off

Originally published by Radio Free Asia on January 22, 2015 The husband of women’s rights activist Su Changlan, held on subversion charges after she supported Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement, says he will sue the authorities over their refusal to allow her a meeting with a defense lawyer, and over a total (read more…)

China’s Legal Profession Had ‘Worst Year Ever’ in 2014

January 23, 2015 Comments Off

Originally published by Radio Free Asia on January 20, 2015 China’s embattled legal profession ended last year with at least seven prominent rights attorneys behind bars, in one of its worst years since its renaissance in the 1980s, an overseas rights group said in a recent article. The Chinese Human Rights (read more…)

China: Revise draft anti-terrorism law to protect freedom of expression, association and dissent

January 22, 2015 Comments Off

(Geneva) – Chinese authorities should withdraw or substantially revise a proposed counter-terrorism law which could be used to further monitor, censor and criminalise the work of human rights defenders and pro-democracy activists, the International Service for Human Rights and Chinese Human Rights Defenders said in a joint statement today. ‘China’s draft Anti-Terrorism Act contains (read more…)

German Newspaper Details Detention of Its Researcher in Beijing

January 20, 2015 Comments Off

Originally published by The New York Times on January 14, 2015 A correspondent for the German newspaper Die Zeit who left China after her Chinese researcher was detained in October, and security agents said they thought she herself might be a spy, has now published the harrowing details of the ordeal. (read more…)

Report: Human rights violations on the rise in China

January 20, 2015 Comments Off

Originally published by Big News Network on January 13, 2015 WASHINGTON — China’s rulers continue to oppress personal freedoms using harsh tactics that include obstructing activism and shutting down public protest even as they declare their commitment to human rights, an independent watchdog group said. Freedom House, a Washington D.C.-based watchdog (read more…)

Freedom on the decline in China: report

January 20, 2015 Comments Off

Originally published by UCA News on January 13, 2015 Repression in China has worsened since Xi Jinping became president in 2013, according to a report published by Freedom House on Tuesday, a sign that the Communist Party is struggling to maintain legitimacy and control despite China’s rise. In a study examining (read more…)

‘Political Crimes’ Make a Comeback in China

January 20, 2015 Comments Off

Originally published by Washington Free Beacon on January 15, 2015 Chinese President Xi Jinping has revived the prosecution of dissidents for political crimes, according to a human rights group. Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD) says at least 22 political activists have beencharged with “inciting subversion of state power” and “subversion of (read more…)

U.S. report says human rights worsen in China

January 20, 2015 Comments Off

Originally published by USA Today on January 13, 2015 BEIJING — A U.S. report Tuesday accused China’s rulers of intensifying their repression of personal freedoms, even as the communist government has proclaimed a commitment to greater human rights. Freedom House, a Washington advocacy group, said that since Communist Party leader Xi (read more…)

Chinese Rights Lawyer’s Phone Calls Limited Under House Arrest

January 20, 2015 Comments Off

Originally published by Radio Free Asia on January 8, 2015 Top Chinese rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng remains effectively under house arrest, five months after his release from prison on subversion charges, his family said on Thursday. Gao, 52, is currently under 24-hour surveillance by state security police at the home of (read more…)

China steps up political arrests, prosecutions: rights group

January 20, 2015 Comments Off

Originally published by AFP on January 8, 2015 BEIJING: China arrested or prosecuted more than 2,300 people for political offences in 2013, the vast majority in secret, an advocacy group reported Thursday as the ruling Communist party continues a crackdown on dissent. A total of 2,318 people were arrested or indicted on (read more…)

China detained an 8-year-old girl and dozens of others for supporting Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests

January 20, 2015 Comments Off

Originally published by Quartz on January 14, 2015 There are over 40 Chinese citizens that continue to be detained—some of them tortured—by Chinese authorities for supporting pro-democracy protests in neighboring Hong Kong, according to researchers at Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD) . At least 42 people are still in police custody after expressing (read more…)