News | Chinese Human Rights Defenders

An Open Letter to US/EU Leaders Who Intend to Attend the Olympic Opening Ceremony

July 11, 2008 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, July 11, 2008) – Today CHRD releases an open letter from Chinese citizens addressed to US/EU leaders calling on them to use the opportunity of visiting China for the opening of the Olympics to raise concern about the seriousness of the human rights abuses taking place (read more…)

Human Rights Activists under House Arrest during U.S. Congress Visit

June 30, 2008 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, June 30, 2008) – On June 29, authorities put a number of Beijing-based human rights activists under house arrest to prevent them from meeting members of the U.S. Congress currently visiting China. At around 2 p.m. on June 29, lawyer Li Baiguang (李柏光) was brought to (read more…)

China Human Rights Briefing June 16-30, 2008

June 30, 2008 Comments Off

China Human Rights Briefing Reporting human rights development from the grassroots June 16-30, 2008 HIGHLIGHTS Scores of prominent activists and dissidents were detained, put under house arrest or warned in order to prevent them from meeting visiting members of the U.S. Congress and the E.U. Parliament. As the Olympics approach (read more…)

Journalist Sun Lin Sentenced to Four Years in Prison

June 27, 2008 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, June 27, 2008) – On June 26, Sun Lin (孙林, a.k.a. Jie Mu (孑木)), was convicted of “illegal possession of firearms” and “gathering crowds to disturb social order” by the Nanjing Xuanwu District People’s Court and sentenced to four years of imprisonment. Sun’s wife and co-defendant, (read more…)

Activist Promoting Grassroots Democracy Disappears, Feared Detained by Police

June 26, 2008 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, June 26, 2008) – Yao Lifa (姚立法), an activist promoting local democratic elections in Hubei Province, disappeared on the afternoon of June 26. It is feared that Yao has been detained by Hubei police. At noon on June 26, Yao was at a demonstration against police (read more…)

Detained Sichuan Activists Denied Access to Legal Counsel

June 25, 2008 Comments Off

Detained Sichuan Activists Denied Access to Legal Counsel (Chinese Human Rights Defenders, June 25, 2008) –Huang Qi (黄琦), director of Tianwang Human Rights Center (www.64tianwang.com) detained on suspicion of “illegal possession of state secrets” since June 10, is denied access to lawyers by police. On June 24, police from the (read more…)

China Human Rights Briefing June 1-15, 2008

June 15, 2008 Comments Off

China Human Rights Briefing Reporting human rights development from the grassroots June 1-15, 2008 HIGHLIGHTS Authorities continue to tighten control over free expression in the aftermath of the Sichuan earthquake. Swedish journalist, Ou Fengrui, was barred from reporting in the earthquake zone. For posting online articles critical of the government’s (read more…)

Human Rights Defender Huang Qi Disappear, Feared Detained by Police

June 12, 2008 Comments Off

Human Rights Defender Huang Qi Disappear, Feared Detained by Police (Chinese Human Rights Defenders, June 12, 2008) – Huang Qi (黄琦), Chengdu-based activist and director of Tianwang Human Rights Center (www.64tianwang.com), disappeared on June 10. All attempts to contact him have failed. It is feared that Huang has been detained (read more…)

Imprisoned Activist Hu Jia Still Denied Access to Adequate Medical Care

June 12, 2008 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, June 12, 2008) – Imprisoned human rights defender Hu Jia (胡佳) continues to be denied access to adequate medical care. Hu is in poor health and suffers from liver cirrhosis. Since his incarceration, Hu has had one physical check-up in late May, but neither he nor (read more…)

Incarcerated Human Rights Defender Liu Jie Tortured

June 11, 2008 Comments Off

Incarcerated Human Rights Defender Liu Jie Tortured (Chinese Human Rights Defenders, June 11, 2008) – CHRD learned today that Liu Jie (刘杰), human rights activist and petitioner currently serving 18 months of Re-education through Labor (RTL), was tortured in late May. On May 22[1], Liu was transferred from Qiqihar RTL (read more…)

Shanghai Activist and Citizen Lawyer Feng Zhenghu Detained

June 8, 2008 Comments Off

Shanghai Activist and Citizen Lawyer Feng Zhenghu Detained (Chinese Human Rights Defenders, June 6, 2008) – On June 5, Feng Zhenghu (冯正虎), a Shanghai rights activist and self-taught “citizen lawyer”, was administratively detained for ten days for “using other means to deliberately disrupt social order”. It is believed that Feng (read more…)

Beijing Intellectual Liu Xiaobo Harassed on the 19th Anniversary of Tiananmen Crackdown

June 4, 2008 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, June 4, 2008) – On the 19th anniversary of the crackdown on the Tiananmen demonstrations, Liu Xiaobo (刘晓波), prominent Beijing dissident and intellectual, was seized by Beijing police. Liu was released a couple of hours later. At 6 p.m. today, Liu and his wife Liu Xia (read more…)