Alerts & Statements | Chinese Human Rights Defenders

The Chinese Government Must End Persecution of Chen Guangcheng, His Family & Supporters, Seek Accountability

April 27, 2012 Comments Off

Following blind activist Chen Guangcheng’s (陈光诚) dramatic escape from unlawful house arrest, Chinese officials have seized at least four of his relatives, and one supporter believed to be involved in aiding in the escape has gone on missing. CHRD calls on the Chinese government to release illegally detained relatives and (read more…)

Mourning the death of Fang Lizhi

April 11, 2012 Comments Off

In grief, we mourn the death of Fang Lizhi, 76, a renowned dissident and leading voice of political liberalization in China in the 1980s, whose public speeches and essays inspired the 1989 pro-democracy protests. Prof. Fang, a founder of modern astrophysics and cosmology in China, was a founding CHRD board (read more…)

Human Rights Activist Ni Yulan Sentenced to Two Years and Eight Months in Prison, Husband Gets Two Years

April 10, 2012 Comments Off

Beijing human rights activist and legal advocate Ni Yulan (倪玉兰) has been convicted of “creating a disturbance” and “fraud” and sentenced to two years and eight months in prison. Ni’s husband, Dong Jiqin (董继勤), also convicted of “creating a disturbance,” was sentenced to two years in prison.

Xi Jinping’s US Visit During Escalating Crackdown on Dissent in China Sends Wrong Signal

February 11, 2012 Comments Off

The visit to Washington next week of Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (习近平), the presumptive next president of China, comes during an escalating crackdown on political and religious dissent in China, and on the heels of China’s veto of a UN resolution condemning the ongoing killing of civilians by the (read more…)

Dissident Zhu Yufu Sentenced to Seven Years for “Inciting Subversion” As Heavy Punishments Continue

February 10, 2012 Comments Off

Veteran dissident Zhu Yufu (朱虞夫), tried on January 31 for “inciting subversion of state power,” was sentenced today to seven years in prison by the Hangzhou City Intermediate People’s Court in Zhejiang Province.

Chinese Dissident Zhu Yufu Tried for “Inciting Subversion,” No Verdict Announced

January 31, 2012 Comments Off

The Hangzhou City Intermediate People’s Court in Zhejiang Province has put veteran dissident Zhu Yufu (朱虞夫) on trial for “inciting subversion of state power” but not issued a verdict. A long sentence is expected after the severe punishments recently imposed by Chinese courts in political cases.

Chinese Democracy Activist Li Tie Jailed for Ten Years for “Subversion”

January 18, 2012 Comments Off

On the heels of recent harsh sentences of democracy and human rights activists, Chinese authorities have sent another dissident, Li Tie (李铁), to prison for 10 years for “subversion of state power.”

Guizhou Activist Chen Xi Jailed for Ten Years for “Inciting Subversion”

December 26, 2011 Comments Off

Guizhou Activist Chen Xi Jailed for Ten Years for “Inciting Subversion” Another Heavy Sentence as Government Intensifies Crackdown on Dissent (Chinese Human Rights Defenders, December 26, 2011) – Today, the day after Christmas, Chinese authorities sent another activist, Chen Xi (陈西), to prison for 10 years, with an additional (read more…)

Veteran Democracy Activist Chen Wei Gets 9 Years for Speech Crime

December 23, 2011 Comments Off

Veteran Democracy Activist Chen Wei Gets 9 Years for Speech Crime (Chinese Human Rights Defenders, December 23, 2011) – Earlier today, the Suining Intermediate People’s Court in Sichuan Province heard the case against veteran activist Chen Wei (陈卫) for “inciting subversion of state power.” At the conclusion of the (read more…)

Disappeared Lawyer Gao Zhisheng Ordered “Back to Prison” Highlights Law’s Arbitrariness in China

December 16, 2011 Comments Off

Disappeared Lawyer Gao Zhisheng Ordered “Back to Prison” Highlights Law’s Arbitrariness in China (Chinese Human Rights Defenders, December 16, 2011) – The human rights lawyer and activist Gao Zhisheng (高智晟), who has been missing for the past 20 months, reportedly has been put “back in jail,” according to a (read more…)

Human Rights Day 2011: A Dismal Year for Human Rights Defenders in China

December 9, 2011 Comments Off

Human Rights Day 2011: A Dismal Year for Human Rights Defenders in China Chinese Government Must Honor Its International Human Rights Obligations (Chinese Human Rights Defenders, December 9, 2011) As the world observes Human Rights Day on December 10, CHRD notes that 2011 was one of the worst years in (read more…)

Empty Chair Remains Empty: Nobel Laureate Liu Xiaobo Languishes in Prison

October 6, 2011 Comments Off

One year after the writer and dissident Liu Xiaobo received the Nobel Peace Prize, CHRD called for his release from prison and also freedom for his wife, the poet Liu Xia, being held under tight house arrest.