News - Chinese Human Rights DefendersChinese Human Rights Defenders

[CHRB] 2 Veteran Democracy Activists Get Long Sentences for “Subversion” (6/17-6/21, 2016)

June 21, 2016 Comments Off

A Chinese court handed two long-time democracy activists lengthy prison sentences on June 17 after convicting them of “subversion of state power,” adding to a string of harsh punishments for dissidents under the reign of President Xi Jinping. Lü Gengsong (吕耿松) was given 11 years’ imprisonment while activist Chen Shuqing (read more…)

[CHRB] 10 Activists Criminally Detained for Memorializing June 4th (6/3-6/8, 2016)

June 8, 2016 Comments Off

Police criminally detained 10 activists before the 27-year anniversary of June 4th, as Chinese citizens continue to face persecution for commemorating the crushing of the 1989 pro-democracy movement. Beginning on May 27, activists Li Meiqing, Li Wei, Liang Taiping, Lu Fuhai, Luo Yaling, Ma Qing, Ma Xinli, Xu Caihong, Zhang (read more…)

China Should Protect Socio-Economic Rights Defenders’ Civil & Political Rights

June 3, 2016 Comments Off

As the US-China Strategic & Economic Dialogue opens in Beijing on June 6, the US should use this opportunity to push for the Chinese government to end its persecution of human rights defenders who promote social and economic rights. These HRDs should be allowed to play an essential role in (read more…)

Keeping June 4th Memories Alive: Q&A With Members of China’s “Post-1990s” Generation

June 2, 2016 Comments Off

Since 1989, the Chinese Communist Party has enforced a policy of denial about the 1989 Tiananmen protests and their violent suppression. Authorities have suppressed demands by victims’ families for justice and any efforts to commemorate those who died when government troops opened fire on peaceful protesters. The government has scrubbed (read more…)

Risky prospects: Engagement of Chinese human rights defenders with the Human Rights Council

June 1, 2016 Comments Off

By Linda Wang & Alex Beck | For many Chinese human rights defenders and independent non-governmental organizations, difficulties and risks associated with engaging the Human Rights Council, including threat of Chinese government reprisals, outweigh the benefits. But there are meaningful actions the Council can take to improve access and to (read more…)

[CHRB] Family Notified of Activist’s Arrest 226 Days After He Disappeared in Myanmar (5/19/2016)

May 19, 2016 Comments Off

Activist Xing Qingxian (幸清贤), who has been disappeared for over seven months after being abducted in Myanmar, was formally arrested on May 6 on suspicion of “organizing others to cross national borders.” Xing is apparently being held in Tianjin Municipal No. 2 Detention Center—the first known confirmation of his exact (read more…)

[CHRB] Inner Mongolians Detained for Exposing & Protesting Environmental Ruin, Violated Land Rights (5/13-18/2016)

May 17, 2016 Comments Off

In a string of suppressive actions since March, police have detained several Inner Mongolian activists, petitioners, and herders in retaliation for exposing or protesting industrial pollution and corruption over land rights that have threatened their livelihoods. Six individuals remain in custody, with one held incommunicado and, thus, at significant risk (read more…)

China: Investigate Alleged Torture of Detained Rights Defender Yin Xu’an

May 12, 2016 Comments Off

CHRD calls for an independent investigation into the alleged torture of human rights defender Yin Xu’an (尹旭安), who has been detained in retaliation for his rights advocacy work since July 2015. Authorities only allowed Yin his first lawyer visit this week, after holding him incommunicado for over nine months. During (read more…)

Alert: Two Activists Sentenced to Prison for Peaceful Rallies

May 9, 2016 Comments Off

Two Chinese activists have been convicted and sentenced to prison in Hubei Province on May 9, 2016. Yuan Bing received four years and Yuan Xiaohua received three years over peaceful rallies that they attended in 2013. The Chibi City People’s Court convicted them on charges of “picking quarrels and provoking (read more…)

[CHRB] Forced Psychiatric Commitment of Dissidents Continues as Police Act Above Enacted Law (4/29-5/5, 2016)

May 5, 2016 Comments Off

Forced commitment in psychiatric facilities remains a common form of retaliation and punishment by Chinese authorities against activists and government critics. The practice endures though it is apparently illegal, according to China’s first Mental Health Law, which was enacted three years ago, on May 1, 2013. Typically, government officials or (read more…)

Political Prisoner Yang Maodong’s Health Deteriorating, Family Seek Urgent Action to Save His Life

April 29, 2016 Comments Off

The health of imprisoned activist Yang Maodong (杨茂东) has worsened to the point where his life may be in danger without prompt and proper medical treatment, according to his sister. Her alarming observations come less than a month after CHRD sent an update to UN human rights experts about Yang’s (read more…)

China: Repeal Overseas NGO Law & Protect Freedom of Association

April 28, 2016 Comments Off

CHRD denounces the Chinese government’s adoption of a law governing overseas NGOs that will have a profoundly detrimental impact on China’s civil society. The law passed China’s rubber-stamp legislature on April 28 despite critical international responses to the most recent draft. The adopted version appears to retain the previous draft’s (read more…)