In the Press - Chinese Human Rights DefendersChinese Human Rights Defenders

The World Sees a Public Health Crisis. Beijing Sees a Political Threat

March 9, 2020 Comments Off

Originally published by The Diplomat on March 9, 2020 Over the past month, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has marshalled the country’s public security apparatus to track down and detain known activists and ordinary citizens who have shared information about the coronavirus outbreak, provided on-the-ground updates from the epicenter, or (read more…)

Is the Coronavirus Outbreak a Pivotal Moment for China?

March 7, 2020 Comments Off

Originally published by Voice Of America on March 7, 2020 WASHINGTON – The death last month of China’s whistleblowing doctor Li Wenliang, weeks after he warned of a new, unnamed coronavirus in an online chatroom, triggered an outpouring of calls for free speech in the world’s most populous authoritarian country. (read more…)

Infectious anger–As the coronavirus spreads in China, so does fury at the government

February 27, 2020 Comments Off

Originally published by World Magazine on February 27,2020 By June Cheng With Wuhan, China, on lockdown, Pastor Mark Song has spent most of the last month pastoring his church and serving the city from his apartment. Every morning he livestreams prayer meetings for the 140 members of his church, prepares his Sunday sermons (read more…)

Coronavirus: Why protecting human rights matters in epidemics

February 24, 2020 Comments Off

Originally published by Daily Maverick on February 24,2020 By Mark Heywood The danger of a virus that could rapidly spread across the world and potentially kill millions of people has long been warned of. As far back as 1996, the World Health Organisation was warning that 17-million people a year were dying prematurely (read more…)

They Documented the Coronavirus Crisis in Wuhan. Then They Vanished.

February 14, 2020 Comments Off

Originally published by New York Times on February 14 ,2020 By Vivian Wang HONG KONG — The beige van squatted outside of a Wuhan hospital, its side and back doors ajar. Fang Bin, a local clothing salesman, peered inside as he walked past. He groaned: “So many dead.” He counted five, six, seven, eight body bags. “This (read more…)

China Under Xi Jinping is a ‘Dystopian Digital Surveillance State’: Rights Group

February 13, 2020 Comments Off

Originally published by Radio Free Asia on February 13,2020 By Wang Yun Chinese president Xi Jinping is building a “dystopian digital surveillance state” to promote his brand of totalitarian rule, according to a recent report by a human rights group.“Pushing for his vision of a dystopian digital surveillance state, Xi wielded his largely unfettered powers to suppress (read more…)

What do we know about the coronavirus victims?

February 11, 2020 Comments Off

Originally published by Sky News on February 11, 2020 The coronavirus outbreak has infected thousands and killed hundreds – but there has been secrecy surrounding many of the cases. So what do we know so far about the victims, and are Chinese authorities trying to silence discussion? What do we (read more…)

China virus funeral order fuels upset as death toll rises

February 9, 2020 Comments Off

Originally published by AL JAZEERA NEWS on February 9, 2020. Sichuan, China – Orders issued by China’s top health authority for the swift cremation of the remains of coronavirus victims at facilities near the hospitals where they died appear to be an overreaction and unnecessary to curb the transmission of the (read more…)

‘Go get a warrant!’: Wuhan shopkeeper defies police over coronavirus videos

February 7, 2020 Comments Off

Originally published by The Observers on February 07,2020 By Marie Genries As the coronavirus epidemic continues to spread across China, a few courageous citizens have braved government censorship to document what is happening. One of them is a man known only as Fangbin, a Wuhan resident who was arrested on February 1 after sharing rare videos of (read more…)

Academic dissent emerges over coronavirus outbreak

February 6, 2020 Comments Off

Originally published by University World News on February 06,2020 By Mimi Leung and Yojana Sharma A well-known academic in China has this week criticised the government’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak, highlighting that it has caused widespread dissatisfaction in the country.The emergence of criticism by academics, medical personnel, and netizens silenced by the authorities for ‘spreading rumours’ (read more…)

He filmed corpses of coronavirus victims in China. Then the police broke into his home

February 3, 2020 Comments Off

Originally published by Los Angeles Times on February 3, 2020 BEIJING — Masked men in hazmat suits came in the night and knocked on Fang Bin’s door in Wuhan, China, demanding to put him in quarantine. “You went to such a dangerous place, couldn’t you have been infected?” one of them asked. (read more…)

More surveillance, tighter controls: China’s coronavirus crackdown

February 3, 2020 Comments Off

Originally published by The Guardian on February 03,2020 By Lily Kuo A man stands next to a cart in a snow-covered field in Inner Mongolia, trying to carve a path. A drone hovers in the distance and a voice calls out: “Uncle, why are you still going out without a face mask? Don’t laugh. Hurry (read more…)