China Human Rights Briefings | Chinese Human Rights Defenders

China Human Rights Briefing: Vaccination Victims, Shenzhen Labor Strike, Churches Shut Down

September 20, 2018 Comments Off

Authorities took into custody Chinese citizens protesting the government’s mishandling of vaccine scandals. Police have also suppressed workers and students seeking labor protections in Guangdong while, elsewhere in China, shutting down house churches.

709 Defense Lawyer Li Yuhan Criminally Detained

November 1, 2017 Comments Off

Liaoning police detained human rights lawyer Li Yuhan (李昱函) on suspicion of unknown criminal charges. Li has been out of contact since October 9, since being taken away by police. She is being held in an unknown location and is at high risk torture and mistreatment.

[CHRB] China: Stop Detaining Activists & Silencing Political Expression Around 19th CCP Congress (9/28-10/17/2017)

October 17, 2017 Comments Off

Prior to CCP’s 19th Congress, Chinese police have seized activists and tightened control over political expression online, with CHRD documenting 14 criminal detentions and two cases of enforced disappearance.

[CHRB] Ongoing Suppression of HRDs: Li Xiaoling Arrested; Lawyer Liu Yao Loses Appeal Over 20-Year Sentence; Gao Zhisheng Still Missing (9/22-27/2017)

September 27, 2017 Comments Off

Guangdong activist Li Xiaoling (李小玲) was arrested after she commemorated the Tiananmen Massacre. Guangdong rights lawyer Liu Yao (刘尧) lost his appeal over a 20-year sentence. Gao Zhisheng (高智晟) is in custody in Beijing after disappearing from house arrest on August 13.

Seven Confirmed Detained for Mourning Liu Xiaobo, Whereabouts of Liu Xia Remain Unknown

August 3, 2017 Comments Off

Police have detained, questioned, and searched the homes of citizens who commemorated Liu Xiaobo (刘晓波) after he passed away on July 13. Authorities have clamped down on public expressions of mourning for Liu. Calls continue for the government to lift its restrictions on Liu Xia (刘霞), the dissident’s widow, who (read more…)

[CHRB] Police Cover Up of Suspicious Death of Detained Ethnic Villager; Government Crackdown on Citizens Remembering Tiananmen (6/1-8/17)

June 8, 2017 Comments Off

Police have intimidated the lawyers and family of Luo Jibiao (罗继标), an ethnic Zhuang, who died in police custody on May 26. CHRD has confirmed the detentions of 16 Chinese citizens for commemorating the 28th anniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre, though the actual number might be higher.

[CHRB] China Punishes Human Rights Defenders and Dissidents with Unfair Trials and Prison Terms (4/23-25/17)

April 26, 2017 Comments Off

Chinese authorities put several human rights defenders on trial over phony charges in retaliation for their defense or exercise of human rights. These cases involve two human rights lawyers, one citizen journalist, one migrant labor rights activist, four activists who had exposed local illegal detention facilities, and five members of (read more…)

[CHRB] Detentions in Suzhou & Xinjiang; New Measures Curb Free Expression (3/20-23, 2017)

March 24, 2017 Comments Off

Nine individuals in Suzhou in Jiangsu Province remain held in an extended police operation, an ex-judge is criminally detained in Xinjiang, and the Chinese government further restricts free expression.

[CHRB] Eleven Activists Remain Forcibly Disappeared in Shenzhen, at Risk of Torture in Police Custody (1/5-1/12/2017)

January 12, 2017 Comments Off

Eleven activists in the city of Shenzhen remain forcibly disappeared since police seized them between November 15 and December 8. Three of them are confirmed to be under “residential surveillance” and suspected of “subversion of state power.”

[CHRB] Wukan Protesters Imprisoned; Church Pastor Tried on “State Secrets” Charge (12/24/2016-1/4/2017)

January 5, 2017 Comments Off

On December 26, nine residents of Wukan Village in Guangdong were given prison sentences for protesting the persecution of a local leader, and a court in Guizhou secretly tried church pastor Yang Hua on a “state secrets” charge. Also, Hangzhou democracy activist Lü Gengsong is suffering from poor health in (read more…)

[CHRB] Candidates Obstructed in Violation of Chinese Election Law (10/21-11/3, 2016)

November 4, 2016 Comments Off

In several cites in China, authorities have intimidated, harassed, and detained citizens who have declared their “independent candidacy” in this year’s elections of delegates to local people’s congresses.

[CHRB] Anti-Corruption Activist Imprisoned, Police Put Down Mass Environmental Protests in Xi’an (10/14-20, 2016)

October 20, 2016 Comments Off

Activist Cheng Kangming was handed a 4½-year prison sentence on October 18, likely in retaliation for exposing official corruption in Zhejiang. Over one thousand armed police in Xi’an crushed a massive protest against a planned waste incinerator plant on October 16.