Originally published by New York Times on January 13, 2016 Over the last six months, the Chinese authorities have detained or summoned for questioning more than 200 legal practitioners who had worked on civil rights cases. While some have been released, several prominent lawyers now face criminal charges, including subverting state power, (read more…)
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Originally published by Radio Free Asia on January 8, 2016 Authorities in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong on Friday handed a six-month jail term to detained rights lawyer Shu Xiangxin, whose lawyers say he was tortured while in custody at a police-run detention center. Shu was found guilty of “defamation” at (read more…)
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Originally published by Radio Free Asia on December 29, 2015 A court in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong has handed down an 18-month jail term to an activist who showed online support for last year’s pro-democracy Occupy Central movement in neighboring Hong Kong. Ye Xiaozheng, known online by his nickname (read more…)
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Originally published by Voice Of America on December 22, 2015 A Beijing court Tuesday found prominent human rights lawyer Pu Zhiqiang guilty of “inciting ethnic hatred” and “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” but gave him a suspended three-year jail term, meaning he could be released in ten days if he decides (read more…)
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Originally published by New York Times on December 22, 2015 BEIJING — In convicting one of China’s most prominent rights lawyers, the Chinese government has struck a body blow at an independent legal movement that until recently had managed to take root despite numerous obstacles, legal rights advocates say. Although the lawyer, Pu Zhiqiang, (read more…)
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Originally published by The Diplomat on December 17, 2015 The 56th session of the United Nations Convention against Torture (CAT) was held in Geneva this year from November 9 to December 9, where a Chinese delegation was present to testify to the progress its nation has made and explain away the (read more…)
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Originally published by Vice News on December 12, 2015 China has pushed back against a United Nations report released this week that criticized the continued use by the country’s justice system of secret detention facilities known as “black jails” where prisoners have allegedly been raped and killed. The report also condemned the (read more…)
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Originally published by The Washington Free Beacon on December 10, 2015 Chinese authorities continue to engage in pervasive torture of imprisoned dissidents and religious and ethnic minorities, according to a new United Nations report that coincided with International Human Rights Day and calls for Beijing to release political prisoners. The United Nations (read more…)
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Originally published by Radio Free Asia on December 3, 2015 A prominent Chinese rights activist jailed for six years by a court in the southern city of Guangzhou last week has filed a formal appeal, saying the judgment against him is “illegal and runs counter to natural justice.” Yang Maodong, better known by his pseudonym (read more…)
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Originally published by Nikkei Asian Review on November 20, 2015 BANGKOK — Thailand is drawing harsh criticism from the U.S. government, human rights organizations and others for the arrest and repatriation of two Chinese activist refugees, seen as an attempt to curry favor with the regional heavyweight. Dong Guangping and Jiang (read more…)
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Originally published by The Diplomat on November 16, 2015 Amnesty International just released its November 11 report, “No End In Sight: Torture and Forced Confessions in China,” detailing the prevalence of torture in China. Upon hearing this, Chinese Community Party fundamentalists will no doubt pitch their best tu quoque curveball, and yes, to an (read more…)
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Originally published by Radio Free Asia on November 12, 2015 Dissident rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, who remains under house arrest since his release from prison in August 2014, has been denied permission by the Chinese police to see a dentist for treatment after losing teeth to torture — for reasons of ‘national security.’ Gao was prevented (read more…)
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