News - Chinese Human Rights DefendersChinese Human Rights Defenders

[CHRB] Law Professor Suspended in Reprisal for Representing Detained Activists (8/22-28, 2013)

August 29, 2013 Comments Off

Law professor and lawyer Zhang Xuezhong (张雪忠) has been suspended from his teaching post at East China University of Political Science and Law in Shanghai, apparently in a move to retaliate against him for an article he wrote promoting constitutional reform in China and for representing activists who have been (read more…)

Human Rights Lawyer Pu Zhiqiang Arrested, Poor Health of Great Concern

June 13, 2014 Comments Off

Prominent human rights lawyer Pu Zhiqiang (浦志强) has been formally arrested after more than a month in detention, charged on June 13 with “creating a disturbance” and “illegally obtaining personal information.” A notice issued by the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau said that “police are conducting further investigation of other (read more…)

[CHRB] Tibetan Dies From Torture Suffered in Prison; Lawyers Detained for Exposing Black Jail (3/21-3/27/2014)

March 27, 2014 Comments Off

Tibetan political prisoner Goshul Lobsang died on March 19 in Gansu Province following torture that he suffered in prison, about five months after being released on medical parole. Reportedly, Lobsang, 43, was brutally tortured while detained, including being shackled and beaten. Also, four human rights lawyers were seized on March (read more…)

[CHRB] Six Months after Mental Health Law Took Effect, Involuntary Psychiatric Commitment Continues (11/8-13, 2013)

November 14, 2013 Comments Off

China’s first Mental Health Law took effect on May 1, 2013 with the aim to regulate the mental health industry. One of the most significant provisions in the law is that psychiatric commitment must be voluntary, thus only a certified psychiatrist would have the authority to commit a person suffering (read more…)

[CHRB] Imprisoned Dissident Chen Xi in Failing Health (6/13-6/19/2014)

June 19, 2014 Comments Off

Imprisoned Guizhou dissident Chen Xi (陈西) is suffering from an untreated and serious intestinal illness and has been denied medical parole since he began serving his current 10-year sentence. His wife fears his life may be in danger if authorities do not provide him adequate medical care. In addition, Jiangxi (read more…)

[CHRB] Activist Guo Feixiong Detained in Crackdown as Known Arrests Reach 25 (8/15-21, 2013)

August 22, 2013 Comments Off

On August 8, Guangzhou-based activist Guo Feixiong (郭飞雄) was criminally detained on suspicion of “gathering a crowd to disrupt order of a public place” as part of the ongoing crackdown on peaceful assembly and association. Alleging that Guo’s case involves “state security,” Guangzhou police on August 21 did not allow (read more…)

Chinese Government Must Be Held Accountable for Death of Activist Cao Shunli – Chinese version

March 17, 2014 Comments Off

我们沉痛哀悼一位无畏的人权捍卫者，曹顺利。她用自己的生命向中国政府对内暴力镇压人权和人权捍卫者、对外虚假承诺“保护人权”标榜“人权进步”发出她最后的一次挑战。曹顺利之死再次证明了中国政府对人权捍卫者的残酷打压、对争取民间参与联合国人权机制运作竭尽全力的报复

Chinese Government Must Be Held Accountable for Death of Activist Cao Shunli

March 14, 2014 Comments Off

We are overwhelmed with grief over the death of Cao Shunli (曹顺利), a fellow human rights defender. Cao Shunli will be remembered by those in China and elsewhere for the sacrifices that she made in unflinchingly promoting human rights, especially her leading role in a campaign to demand the Chinese (read more…)

[CHRB] (3/7-3/13/2014) Guangdong Activists Going to Trial, Jiangsu Police Assault Pregnant Petitioners

March 13, 2014 Comments Off

The pre-trial meeting for Guangdong activists Huang Wenxun (黄文勋), Yuan Fengchu (袁奉初) (aka Yuan Bing, 袁兵) and Yuan Xiaohua (袁小华) will reportedly begin on March 13 at the Chibi City People’s Court in Hubei Province. In late May of 2013, the three men were seized in Chibi while taking part (read more…)

[CHRB] More Activists Detained for Peaceful Assembly & Association (8/8-8/14, 2013)

August 15, 2013 Comments Off

Authorities have arrested one more activist and criminally detained two others in the crackdown on peaceful assembly and association that the Chinese government has waged since March. Shenzhen-based activist Yang Lin (杨林, aka Yang Mingyu, 杨明玉), was arrested on suspicion of “inciting subversion of state power” on July 19. In (read more…)

[CHRB] Activist Now Detained One Year for Seeking Participation in UPR (8/1-7, 2013)

August 8, 2013 Comments Off

Hunan activist Peng Lanlan (彭兰岚) has been detained for one year after pushing for civil society participation in China’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR). Peng, who has reportedly been very weak and had difficulty eating, was tried in June 2013 for “obstructing official business,” but no verdict has been handed down. (read more…)

[CHRB] More Than 30 Petitioners Detained for Joining Anti-Corruption Campaign (7/26-31, 2013)

August 1, 2013 Comments Off

CHRD has been able to verify that, in May and June, Beijing police swept up more than 30 petitioners who had joined the drive calling for top Chinese officials to disclose their wealth while also appealing for the release of other detained anti-corruption activists. Most of the petitioners were freed (read more…)