Over the past six years, Chinese authorities have unlawfully detained thousands of people for peacefully exercising their rights. According to a report by Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD), a rights group cited by Radio Free Asia (RFA), China has sentenced 1,545 individuals as prisoners of conscience.
Unlawful Detentions and Human Rights Violations
The CHRD, a non-governmental organization made up of both domestic and international activists, claimed that these detentions could amount to crimes against humanity.
“They were convicted and imprisoned based on charges arising from laws that do not align with the Chinese government’s domestic and international human rights commitments,” the organization stated in its report.
It further alleged that China’s criminal justice system – including the police, prosecutors, and courts – acted arbitrarily to suppress dissent and violate human rights. Prisoners of conscience faced severe penalties, with an average sentence of six years, increasing to seven years for national security-related charges.
Severe Sentences and Executions
The report highlighted three individuals—Tashpolat Tiyip, Sattar Sawut, and Yang Hengjun—who received death sentences. Additionally, Rahile Dawut and Abdurazaq Sayim were sentenced to life imprisonment.
The CHRD also noted that 48 individuals received sentences of at least ten years. Many of the detained individuals belonged to marginalized communities, such as ethnic Tibetans and Uyghurs, with a disproportionate number of women activists affected. Among prisoners of conscience aged 60 or older, two-thirds were women.
Xi Jinping’s Leadership and Growing Repression
The report accused Chinese President Xi Jinping’s government of escalating the use of arbitrary detention to silence dissent and punish human rights defenders. CHRD documented 58 individuals convicted of “endangering national security.”
“The overall average prison term for a national security violation is 6.72 years, although this figure does not include those sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve or to life in prison,” RFA quoted the organization as saying.
Crackdown on Taiwan-Related Political Activities
The report also highlighted how China punishes individuals for political activities related to Taiwan. Under broad legal provisions, the government criminalizes discussions on Taiwan’s status, calls for referendums, and support for its global participation.
These regulations permit trials in absentia and even the death penalty, creating fear among Taiwanese citizens who advocate for democratic values.