September 2023 | Human Rights Lawyers and Activists Face Grave Risks: Health Crises Unfold | Legal & Bureaucratic Battles | Harsh Sentences

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UPDATES ON CHINA

Guo Feixiong's Life in Danger Due to Hunger Strike in Prison

It was reported on 19 September 2023 that Guo Feixiong, a renowned human rights defender and a legal activist in China, is in a critical condition due to a prolonged hunger strike in prison. Despite severe health issues such as weight loss, fevers, dizziness, and other ailments, his request for a transfer to a better detention facility has been ignored by the authorities.

Guo Feixiong was prevented from leaving the country to care for his terminally ill wife in the U.S. in 2021, and has been detained since December 2021. His wife subsequently passed away in January 2022, without Guo being able to visit. In the same month, Guo was formally charged with inciting subversion of state power. In May 2023, he was sentenced to 8 years in prison and stripped of political rights for 3 years.

Guo Feixiong has been a target of the Chinese authorities due to his human rights activism and has been imprisoned multiple times in the past. More details about Guo Feixiong’s journey of human rights activism is available on our website.

Zhang Zhan Suffers Severe Illness and Is Hospitalised

It was reported on 31 August 2023 that Zhang Zhan, a Chinese citizen journalist and former lawyer, is experiencing severe health issues. She is currently serving a four-year prison sentence for “picking quarrels and provoking troubles,” a charge placed against her for reporting on the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan. She has been repeatedly admitted to the prison hospital due to her deteriorating health. Access to her by lawyers and family members has been limited, and her condition has continued to raise concerns among activists and online communities. Her recent re-admission to the prison hospital suggests that her life is in grave danger, sparking renewed calls for her immediate release and medical treatment.

Zhang Zhan has received various awards recognising her courage and dedication to free speech. For example, she has demonstrated support for the protests in Hong Kong and has been critical of the Chinese regime. Despite showing signs of slight improvement earlier this year, Zhang Zhan’s health remains in a precarious state. This has led to growing concerns about the irreversible damage being done to her health due to her prolonged detention and starvation. Her case has attracted international attention and is emblematic of the risks faced by journalists and activists in China.

Li Wenzu Encounters Obstacles over Issuance and Renewal of Passport

A series of legal complications have unfolded since the beginning of 2023 for Li Wenzu, wife of Chinese human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang, in her pursuit of a passport. She has been systematically denied the right to leave China, a restriction also imposed on other human rights lawyers and activists in the country. Her initial attempts to take legal action against the Badong County Public Security Bureau – for their arbitrary imposition of travel restriction in the absence of any ongoing criminal legal proceedings – were refused by the court in August 2023.

Authorities in Beijing and Badong have been evading responsibility, creating a bureaucratic muddle that leaves Li Wenzu in a state of limbo. Despite being promised formal written notices by the court and receiving conflicting advice on legal procedures, she has yet to receive any such documents. Her passport application has been hampered by both legal and bureaucratic barriers, offering no clear path forward. Li Wenzu’s experience highlights the increasing challenges faced by human rights lawyers, defenders, and their family members in China with regard to leaving the country's territory.

OHCHR Questions China on the Status of Human Rights Lawyer Li Yuhan

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has issued a formal communication to the Chinese government concerning the treatment and condition of Li Yuhan, a human rights lawyer in her seventies. Li has represented victims of human rights abuses in China, and her detention since October 2017 has been marred by alleged violations of due process, including the denial of legal representation and inadequate medical care. The OHCHR has expressed “grave concern” over Li’s ongoing arbitrary detention and ill-treatment, which has led to a significant deterioration in her health, including multiple heart attacks. OHCHR also noted that, despite her trial finally taking place in October 2021 after multiple delays, no verdict has been issued, violating her right to appeal.

The last update on Li Yuhan was in March 2023, when her lawyer He Wei visited her at a detention centre in Shenyang. The meeting revealed that Li Yuhan was in a weakened and worrying state. Following the visit, He Wei urged for her to receive a health check and possible surgery and called for judicial oversight concerning her prolonged detention. He Wei also filed written complaints about Li Yuhan’s detention conditions.

As of publication Li Yuhan has been detained for nearly six years, or nearly 2,200 days, on charges including "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" and "fraud," in the absence of a verdict. Her trial, which was held privately, took place in October 2021. Li Yuhan has reportedly been subjected to torture and has suffered from severe illnesses, including multiple heart attacks, while in custody. Despite her family's online appeals for her release on medical grounds, there has been no progress. She remains imprisoned indefinitely, with no verdict yet announced.

Chinese Human Rights Lawyer Qin Yongpei is still being held in long-term solitary confinement

Chinese human rights lawyer Qin Yongpei continues to be held in extended solitary confinement at the Guangxi Second Detention Centre, as confirmed by his defence lawyer who recently visited him there. Qin has been in custody since October 2019 and was sentenced to a five-year prison term in March 2023, after 1,250 days of detention, for inciting the subversion of state power. His lawyer contends that such prolonged solitary confinement violates international human rights laws. Unwilling to accept the verdict, Qin is preparing to file an appeal against his conviction.

Fighting for Justice: The Profile Story of Human Rights Lawyer Zhou Shifeng

Zhou Shifeng is a human rights lawyer in China. Despite the risks that come with defending human rights in China—including detention, torture, and revocation of legal licenses—Zhou is determined to commit in the pursuit of human rights. The Beijing Fengrui law firm previously established by him employed a number of human rights lawyers and took on significant, sensitive cases. The firm was eventually targeted and dismantled during the 709 Crackdown, and Zhou himself was imprisoned for over seven years upon being convicted for inciting subversion of state power.

Zhou, who himself is a victim under the 709 Crackdown, continues his pursuit of justice, particularly for victims of the 709 Crackdown. Upon his release in September 2022, Zhou immediately documented his experiences of illegal detention and torture. Undeterred, he publicly accused high-ranking Chinese officials of leading the crackdown and announced plans to sue the Communist Party of China and the National People's Congress. To delve deeper into the story of Zhou Shifeng and his unyielding spirit, please visit The 29 Principles’ recently uploaded profile story about him on our website.

Ding Jiaxi and Xu Zhiyong: Harsh Sentences Given without Verdict

Legal scholar Xu Zhiyong and human rights lawyer Ding Jiaxi have been at the forefront of human rights advocacy in China. However, their dedication to human rights and rule of law has encountered stern reprisal from Chinese authorities. Both were recently sentenced to prison terms for more than 10 years for “subversion of state power,” although the rationale behind their convictions remains undisclosed as the judgment and the reasoning for their conviction and sentencing has still been missing. Their sentences follow a series of coordinated crackdowns on human rights lawyers and activists, notably the “1226 Crackdown” in 2019 that led to their current imprisonment.

Both of them have been subjected to human rights abuses during their detention. Xu has faced torture techniques like sleep deprivation and physical restraint, while Ding has been isolated, denied legal counsel, and subjected to psychological abuse. The oppression against them even extended to their loved one: Xu’s girlfriend, Li Qiaochu, has been in detention for nearly 1000 days since 6 February 2021, owing to her advocacy for both Ding and Xu. These cases highlight the extreme measures authorities will employ to quash dissent. For more in-depth information of Ding Jiaxi and Xu Zhiyong, visit The 29 Principles’ website to read our recently updated story.

THE 29 PRINCIPLES UPDATES

Latest Updates to The 29 Principles’ Lawyers’ Database

The 29 Principles is continually updating our Lawyer Database, which tracks the challenges faced by human rights lawyers and advocates in China. This month, we've updated the profiles of
Chang Weiping, Ding Jiaxi, Gao Zhisheng, Hao Jinsong, Lu Siwei, Xu Yan, Xu Zhiyong and Yu Wensheng. For more details on other human rights lawyers and defenders in China, please visit our website.

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