mayawang.bsky.social
@mayawang.bsky.social
Associate Asia director @hrw. Also distinguished fellow @asu_ldns. Email me: wangm(at)hrw(dot)org.
“Gao Zhen is facing years in prison for holding up a mirror to China’s past," @hrw.org's @elainepearson.bsky.social
said. “The Chinese government should break away from its abusive past practices, drop the charges against Gao, and immediately release him.”
said. “The Chinese government should break away from its abusive past practices, drop the charges against Gao, and immediately release him.”
October 8, 2025 at 1:35 PM
“Gao Zhen is facing years in prison for holding up a mirror to China’s past," @hrw.org's @elainepearson.bsky.social
said. “The Chinese government should break away from its abusive past practices, drop the charges against Gao, and immediately release him.”
said. “The Chinese government should break away from its abusive past practices, drop the charges against Gao, and immediately release him.”
Gao's father died in custody during the Cultural Revolution. As fellow Chinese artists noted in a public letter: "[The [police] has labeled Gao Zhen’s artistic creations as evidence of a crime, repeating the persecutions of the Cultural Revolution.”
October 8, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Gao's father died in custody during the Cultural Revolution. As fellow Chinese artists noted in a public letter: "[The [police] has labeled Gao Zhen’s artistic creations as evidence of a crime, repeating the persecutions of the Cultural Revolution.”
After Gao fainted, doctor at the detention center said he may have arteriosclerosis, a hardening of the arteries, and that it could be “a precursor to a stroke.” Gao also suffers from a chronic back problem. He's held in a crowded cell with 14 others. www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
China: Free US-Resident Artist Unjustly Charged
The Chinese government should drop the baseless charges against the artist Gao Zhen (高兟) and allow him and his family to return to the United States.
www.hrw.org
October 8, 2025 at 1:35 PM
After Gao fainted, doctor at the detention center said he may have arteriosclerosis, a hardening of the arteries, and that it could be “a precursor to a stroke.” Gao also suffers from a chronic back problem. He's held in a crowded cell with 14 others. www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
Gao's prosecuted for the crime of “slandering China’s heroes and martyrs”--introduced in 2021--for the well-known sculptures he made over a decade ago, before the crime existed. Under Xi, the Chinese government has tightened ideological control.
October 8, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Gao's prosecuted for the crime of “slandering China’s heroes and martyrs”--introduced in 2021--for the well-known sculptures he made over a decade ago, before the crime existed. Under Xi, the Chinese government has tightened ideological control.
See also: @hrw.org's work on prison figures www.hrw.org/news/2021/02... and www.hrw.org/news/2022/09...
China: Baseless Imprisonments Surge in Xinjiang
(New York) – The Chinese government has increased its groundless prosecutions with long prison sentences for Uyghurs and other Muslims in recent years in China’s Xinjiang region.
www.hrw.org
August 28, 2025 at 1:21 PM
See also: @hrw.org's work on prison figures www.hrw.org/news/2021/02... and www.hrw.org/news/2022/09...