Human Rights Watch has called on Chinese authorities to release 22-year-old activist Zhang Yadi (张雅笛), also known as Tara, who was arrested on July 31 in Shangri-La, Yunnan province. Zhang, a member of the group Chinese Youth for Tibet, is accused of violating Article 103 of China’s criminal code, which criminalizes activities deemed to “split the country and undermine national unity.”
Zhang had been studying in France and maintained a digital platform advocating for Tibetan cultural awareness in Chinese-language communities. Her group, formed in the wake of the 2022 “White Paper” protests, seeks to challenge ethnic prejudice and promote dialogue between Han Chinese and Tibetans.
Her arrest has drawn international concern, particularly over the broad application of national security laws to peaceful activism. Human Rights Watch stated that Zhang’s work does not constitute incitement or separatism, and urged her immediate release.
Chinese human rights lawyer Jiang Tianyong, who attempted to assist Zhang, was detained on September 16 en route to provide legal support. His detention adds to a growing list of arrests targeting civil society figures, including filmmaker Chen Pin Lin, who was jailed for documenting China’s COVID-19 lockdowns.
Rights groups continue to press Beijing to respect freedom of expression and allow public commemoration of the “White Paper” protests, which marked a rare wave of dissent in late 2022.
Excerpts from jurist.org article by Paige Miller | U. Arizona College of Law, US
