UN human rights experts have condemned China for repeatedly denying medical treatment to Chinese human rights defender Yang Li. They have called on Chinese authorities to cease the harassment and intimidation of Li and her family and allow her access to medical care. The experts highlighted that the arrest and indictment of Yang Li seem to be aimed at preventing her from peacefully exercising her rights to address legitimate grievances.
Li, a human rights defender from Jintan, China, has been a vocal advocate for housing and land rights, particularly addressing issues like illegal land expropriation and forced evictions. She has raised awareness about the displacement of local residents and the lack of compensation for those affected. Despite her advocacy work, Li was detained by police on January 18 while en route to Beijing for urgent medical treatment.
Since her detention in 2025, Yang Li has been denied access to necessary medical treatment. Despite being diagnosed with a severe health condition in August of the previous year, she has been prevented from receiving specialized medical care. Even after her release on December 30, Li’s movements have been restricted, and she has not been allowed to seek medical attention, according to reports.
Front Line Defenders (FLD), an international human rights organization, has highlighted that Li’s denial of medical care appears to be part of a broader pattern of retaliation against her for her human rights advocacy work. The organization emphasized that Li has been targeted for her efforts in exposing abuses related to land rights.
