In July 2020, Chinese dissident Xu Zhiyong was sentenced to eight years in prison. His crime? Attempting to board an international flight to visit his sick wife. Xu is just one of the many victims of China’s authoritarian regime, which has long been known for its suppression of free speech and political dissent.
Xu Zhiyong is a prominent human rights activist and legal scholar in China. He gained fame in 2013 when he launched the “New Citizens’ Movement,” a campaign aimed at promoting civil rights and government transparency. The movement called for greater democracy, an end to corruption, and an independent judiciary in China. Xu became a leader of the movement, which quickly gained a large following.
However, the Chinese government saw the New Citizens’ Movement as a threat to its one-party rule and cracked down on it hard. In 2014, Xu was jailed for four years on trumped-up charges of disturbing public order. Upon his release in 2017, he continued to speak out against the government, calling for an end to the persecution of dissidents and minorities in China.
In February 2020, Xu’s wife was diagnosed with stage-four ovarian cancer and underwent surgery. Xu, who was already under surveillance by the authorities, decided to travel to the United States to seek medical treatment for his wife. However, when he arrived at the airport, he was arrested and charged with “inciting subversion of state power.”
Xu’s trial was held in secret, without any independent observers present. The judge refused to let him defend himself or call witnesses. Xu’s lawyer, who was appointed by the government, was unable to present any evidence or cross-examine witnesses. In July, Xu was found guilty and sentenced to eight years in prison.
The Chinese government has a long history of punishing dissidents who speak out against its authoritarian rule. Amnesty International estimates that there are thousands of prisoners of conscience in China, who are jailed for their beliefs or peaceful activism. Human rights groups have documented cases of torture, forced confessions, and extrajudicial killings by the authorities.
China’s persecution of dissidents is not limited to its borders. It has also taken aggressive action against those who speak out against its policies abroad. In recent years, China has used its economic and diplomatic power to pressure other countries to silence critics of its human rights record. It has also launched cyber attacks and harassment campaigns against dissidents living overseas.
Xu’s case is just one of many examples of China’s disregard for human rights and the rule of law. The sentence he received is a clear violation of his basic rights as a citizen, including the right to free speech, freedom of movement, and a fair trial. It also sends a chilling message to other dissidents in China that the government will not hesitate to punish them harshly if they dare to speak out.
The international community has condemned Xu’s sentence, with many calling for his immediate release. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, called the sentence “deeply disturbing” and urged China to respect Xu’s rights as a human rights defender. The US State Department also called for his release and criticized China’s ongoing repression of freedom of expression and assembly.
Despite the outcry, it is unlikely that Xu will be released anytime soon. China’s government shows no sign of slowing down its repression of dissent, and it continues to crack down on human rights defenders and other activists. However, Xu’s case has brought attention to the plight of dissidents in China and the urgent need for greater protection of human rights in the country.
As the international community continues to pressure China to reform its human rights practices, it is important to remember the individuals like Xu Zhiyong who are the victims of this repression. Their fight for freedom and justice is a reminder of the universal values that we all share, and a call to action for those who believe in human rights and the rule of law.
