A global human rights organization has urged Chinese authorities to permit human rights lawyer Yu Wensheng to reunite with his family in Beijing without restrictions upon his upcoming release from prison after a “baseless subversion” conviction. Yu Wensheng is set to be released on April 13, having served a three-year term for “inciting subversion of state power.” He was detained on April 13, 2023, along with his wife Xu Yan while en route to meet EU officials in Beijing.
Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director Sarah Brooks emphasized that Yu Wensheng’s freedom post-release should be complete, allowing him to return home, reunite with his family, and resume his life and work without surveillance or intimidation. The organization highlighted that Chinese courts often impose “deprivation of political rights” on activists post their prison terms, including in Yu’s case, which Amnesty International deems a violation of international standards.
The rights body condemned the practice of imposing supplemental sentences, labeling it as a means to harass activists and impede their human rights advocacy. Brooks stressed that Yu Wensheng’s imprisonment stemmed from his defense of people against alleged abuses of power and his call for a fairer, more transparent system. She expressed concern over the broader crackdown on human rights defenders in China, noting the detrimental impact on Yu Wensheng’s family due to ongoing surveillance and harassment by Chinese authorities.
Yu Wensheng’s wife, Xu, disclosed the mental health toll on their son as a result of the authorities’ actions, both during her husband’s previous imprisonment and the current one. Despite the challenges faced, Amnesty International emphasized that human rights defenders in China remain resilient and refuse to be silenced by the government’s repressive tactics.
