Xu Zhiyong

"Uphold the Bottom Line of the Rule of Law" -- an open letter to all delegates of the Twelfth National People’s Congress about the prosecution of New Citizens Movement advocates

Prior to the start of the 12th National People's Congress, the lawyers of Xu Zhiyong, Ding Jiaxi, Zhao Changqing , and other activists—who have been prosecuted for their participation in the New Citizens Movement—as well as domestic intellectuals, business people, and journalists, jointly issued an...

March 2, 2014

Citizens' Square

National People's Congress (NPC)

Ding Jiaxi

Xu Zhiyong’s First-Instance Verdict (English translation)

The Beijing Municipal No. 1 Intermediate People's Court sentenced Xu Zhiyong （许志永） , leading advocate of the New Citizens Movement, to four years’ imprisonment for “gathering a crowd to disrupt order in a public place,” one year short of the maximum penalty for the charge. The court issued the...

January 26, 2014

Citizens' Square

Asset Transparency

Xu Zhiyong

Lawyers Dismissed or Withdrawn in Protest of Unfair Trials of Three Citizen Activists

Four participants of the New Citizens Movement— Ding Jiaxi ( 丁家喜) , Li Wei ( 李蔚 ), Zhang Baocheng ( 张宝成) , and Yuan Dong ( 袁冬) —were tried in two separate trials on Monday, January 27 at the Beijing Haidian District People’s Court. The proceedings marked the end of a series of trials of citizen...

January 31, 2014

HRIC Bulletin

New Citizens Movement

Cheng Hai

“Turning this Page, Let Life Start Anew”—Statement by Xu Zhiyong’s Lawyer

Statement by Xu Zhiyong’s lawyer, Zhang Qingfang, upon receiving his client’s verdict: four years’ imprisonment for “gathering a crowd to disrupt order in a public place.” Xu, a key advocate of the New Citizens Movement, was tried last Wednesday, January 22, at the Beijing Municipal No. 1...

January 26, 2014

Citizens' Square

New Citizens Movement

Xu Zhiyong

Four Years for New Citizens Movement Advocate Xu Zhiyong

Today the Beijing Municipal No. 1 Intermediate People’s Court sentenced Xu Zhiyong (许志永), a leading advocate of the New Citizens Movement, to four years’ imprisonment for “gathering a crowd to disrupt order in a public place,” one year short of the maximum penalty for the charge. Xu was tried last...

January 26, 2014

Case Update

New Citizens Movement

Xu Zhiyong

Xu Zhiyong Trial Ends without Verdict, Foreign Journalists Attacked

The trial of Xu Zhiyong ( 许志永) , a key advocate of the New Citizens Movement, ended today without a verdict. Xu, a constitutional law scholar and vocal supporter of education equality and asset transparency, is charged with “gathering a crowd to disrupt order in a public place,” and faces up to...

January 23, 2014

Case Update

Asset Transparency

Xu Zhiyong

Photos of Citizens Supporting Xu Zhiyong, Ding Jiaxi et al on Trial

On the afternoon of January 21, 2014, citizens from different parts of the country gathered in front of the Beijing No. 1 Intermediate People's Court and Beijing Haidian District People's Court holding banners in support of Xu Zhiyong, Ding Jiaxi, and other rights defenders who are facing trial...

January 21, 2014

Citizens' Square

Ding Jiaxi

“For Freedom, Justice, and Love”—Xu Zhiyong’s Final Statement at Trial

The trial of Xu Zhiyong, New Citizens Movement activist, opened January 22 at 9:00 a.m. at the Beijing No1 Intermediate People's Court, and ended the same day. The court will announce later the date of verdict. Xu was charged with "assembling a crowd to disrupt order in a public place" for his role...

January 22, 2014

Citizens' Square

Xu Zhiyong

China Elected to UN Human Rights Council

In an election held in New York today, the United Nations General Assembly elected China to the 47-member Human Rights Council, the UN's top human rights body, for a three-year term (2014-2016). “China must uphold the highest human rights standards not only required by international human rights...

November 12, 2013

Press Work

Rule Of Law

Cao Shunli

HRIC Urges China to Release Rights Activists to Show Human Rights Commitment

In advance of the November 12 Human Rights Council elections, HRIC urges China to honor the pledge it has made for its candidacy: “to protect the rights of the people to be informed of, participate in, express views about and oversee government affairs.”

November 5, 2013

Press Work