Amnesty International is urging increased international pressure on China to release human rights defenders imprisoned after attending a social gathering in December 2019. The crackdown, which began in the southeastern city of Xiamen, targeted activists who met to discuss civil society and social issues. Among those detained were prominent human rights lawyer Ding Jiaxi and legal scholar Xu Zhiyong, both of whom have been subjected to prolonged arbitrary detention, torture, and unfair trials.
The crackdown led to the forced disappearance of Ding and Xu, along with at least five other activists. They were detained under a form of secret detention known as Residential Surveillance at a Designated Location (RSDL), which places detainees at heightened risk of ill-treatment. Both Ding and Xu were sentenced in 2023 for “subverting state power,” with Ding receiving a 12-year prison term and Xu a 14-year sentence. Despite these sentences, they have continued their advocacy for human rights in China, and their families remain vocal in their calls for justice.
Amnesty International has described the sentencing as an attempt to suppress civil society and prevent any challenge to the Chinese government’s authority. Sarah Brooks, Amnesty International’s China Director, emphasized that the charges against Ding and Xu stemmed solely from their participation in a peaceful gathering and their efforts to discuss social issues, which are fundamental rights protected under international law.
The arrests and trials of these activists have drawn widespread condemnation from the international community. However, concrete actions from foreign governments and UN officials to address the situation have been limited. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk and several governments have issued recommendations for China to release Ding and Xu, but to date, the Chinese government has not taken any substantial steps to meet these demands.
Both Ding Jiaxi and Xu Zhiyong were key figures in the New Citizens’ Movement, which advocates for government transparency, anti-corruption measures, and the protection of civil rights. Both activists had previously been imprisoned for their advocacy and had faced intimidation and harassment by authorities even before the 2019 crackdown. The harsh sentences and continued detention of these individuals serve as a stark reminder of the Chinese government’s ongoing efforts to suppress dissent and silence human rights defenders.
Ding and Xu’s families, including Ding’s wife, Sophie Luo, continue to advocate for their release. Luo has stated that the arrest of her husband and the other activists is an injustice, as they violated no laws by simply attending a private gathering. The support of international human rights organizations and individuals continues to be crucial in highlighting the ongoing repression of civil society in China.
Amnesty International continues to classify both Ding and Xu as prisoners of conscience, individuals imprisoned solely for peacefully advocating for human rights and engaging in non-violent civil disobedience. The organization is calling on the Chinese authorities to stop punishing all those involved in the Xiamen gathering and to release them immediately.
The case of Ding Jiaxi, Xu Zhiyong, and their fellow activists is emblematic of the broader crackdown on civil society in China, where human rights defenders face constant threats of imprisonment, torture, and harassment. As the international community increasingly condemns China’s treatment of dissidents, the fight for the release of these individuals continues to gain momentum. The case remains a key example of the ongoing struggle for freedom of expression, assembly, and the defense of human rights in China.
For more information on the situation and how to get involved, Amnesty International’s ongoing advocacy efforts provide resources and updates.
