China Human Rights Briefings | Chinese Human Rights Defenders

National Security Crime “Inciting Subversion” Used in Multiple Cases Against Chinese Lawyers/Activists

June 25, 2020 Comments Off

This week, while the Chinese government is poised to impose a national security law in Hong Kong, it also prosecuted a number of mainland human rights lawyers and activists on “inciting subversion of state power” charges, exemplifying how the government uses “endangering national security” crimes, with increasing frequency, to silent (read more…)

Enforcing Amnesia, China Detained and Intimidated Activists Around 31st Anniversary of Tiananmen Massacre

June 9, 2020 Comments Off

Police in cities across China disappeared, detained, and harassed activists during the period around the 31st anniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre.

1989 Student Protester Chen Yunfei Secretly Detained Ahead of Tiananmen Anniversary

June 3, 2020 Comments Off

Chengdu police reportedly took away activist Chen Yunfei from his home in the Wenjiang District on May 31, 2020.

Poet Wang Zang Detained by Yunnan Police for “Inciting Subversion”

June 1, 2020 Comments Off

Yunnan police seized poet Wang Zang on May 30, 2020. They accused him of “inciting subversion of state power” and raided his home.

Guangdong Activist Detained for Online Expression of Support to Hong Kong

June 1, 2020 Comments Off

Guangdong police detained activist Xiao Yuhui and several other members of a WeChat group that reposted “One Message per Person to Save Hong Kong.”

Sichuan Activist Detained for Protest for Lack of Representation by “People’s Congress”

June 1, 2020 Comments Off

Chengdu police detained activist Xie Junbiao on May 10, 2020 following his protest that morning outside the Sichuan Provincial People’s Assembly.

Distributing Pro-Democracy Flyers, Woman Is Put under Psychiatric Detention

June 1, 2020 Comments Off

Beijing police detained a local Shandong government official for distributing flyers and then sent her back to her hometown and forcibly committed her to a psychiatric hospital.

Chinese Authorities Target Speech on Twitter in Criminalizing Free Expression

June 1, 2020 Comments Off

Beijing activist Quan Shixin has been indicted and faces trial on charges of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” for using Twitter. Wang Yong and Gao Jinbiao were recently tried, convited, and given prison sentences for using Twitter.

Police Take Away Journalist Jiang Xue After Her Article Mourning Dr. Li Wenliang

May 18, 2020 Comments Off

Xi’an Police seized prominent journalist Jiang Xue on May 18. Her whereabouts and the criminal charges against her are unknown.

Police Detain Citizen Journalist Zhang Zhan, Who Reported on COVID-19 in Wuhan

May 18, 2020 Comments Off

Shanghai police criminally detained citizen journalist and activist Zhang Zhan on May 15, 2020, on suspicion of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.” She had been reporting from Wuhan since February about the coronavirus pandemic.

Chinese Police Detain Poet For “Inciting Subversion” over Online Expression

May 14, 2020 Comments Off

Liaocheng City police seized poet Lu Yang on May 1. For the next two weeks, police subjected him to forced disappearance. On May 13, police notified his family that Lu Yang had been criminally detained on suspicion of “inciting subversion” for comments made online.

Former Law Professor & Rights Lawyer Zhang Xuezhong Detained after Calling for Political Reform

May 11, 2020 Comments Off

Shanghai police seized lawyer and former professor Zhang Xuezhong from his home in the early morning of May 11. Two days prior to being detained, Zhang had written an open letter to all the delegates of the National People’s Congress.