In January 2023, Xu Zhiyong's lawyer, Wang Ying, took a photo of Xu Zhiyong during a meeting at the Linshu County Detention Center in Linyi City, Shandong Province. (Photo credit: Wang Ying)
People News Report — Renowned Chinese legal scholar Xu Zhiyong, who was sentenced to a harsh prison term, began a hunger strike in early October in protest against the deprivation of his rights, including being placed under "close surveillance" and denied communication with his family. As a result, his weight has dropped dramatically, and his health has deteriorated. The "12.26 Xiamen Gathering Concern Group" and human rights lawyers following Xu’s situation are calling for public attention and support for Xu Zhiyong.
According to Radio Free Asia, the "12.26 Xiamen Gathering Concern Group" issued a statement on Thursday, October 24, revealing that Xu Zhiyong, a prominent legal scholar imprisoned after being given a heavy sentence, began his hunger strike on October 4 to protest the mental abuse he suffered in prison, such as "close surveillance," in defense of his dignity and basic human rights. The statement noted that Xu has been on a hunger strike for 20 days, during which he lost more than 10 pounds, and his health has deteriorated rapidly. However, it remains unclear whether he is receiving adequate medical care.
The group emphasized that Xu Zhiyong's hunger strike is not a disregard for life, but rather a desperate and helpless act to reclaim his violated rights. They also strongly condemned the prison for violating Xu's human rights through rogue tactics.
Xu Zhiyong’s Hunger Strike to Protest Long-Term Abuse and Deprivation of Communication Rights
Teng Biao, a visiting professor at the City University of New York who worked with Xu Zhiyong for many years, said that the monitoring of Xu is not carried out by local prisons but is directed from higher levels. He criticized Beijing for disregarding the law and for the numerous forms of persecution inflicted on Xu and his family.
"Xu Zhiyong’s situation is very, very bad right now," Teng said. "The 'close surveillance' has not changed at all, and Xu’s right to communicate with his family has been revoked. When his family visits, they are often obstructed, harassed, and even threatened. The authorities have also warned his family not to disclose any information about him. For Xu, being able to communicate with his girlfriend and family is extremely important. In his despair, he chose to go on a hunger strike, which has now lasted 20 days."
Teng Biao added that Xu Zhiyong has a strong sense of idealism and sacrifice, which makes his current situation even more worrisome.
Lack of Information Indicates Worse Conditions
Luo Shengchun, the wife of long-time activist Ding Jiaxi, who has been advocating for Xu Zhiyong, said she tried to contact Xu’s family to learn more about his situation, but his family members were too afraid to speak. She believes that the tighter the information block, the worse Xu’s condition is.
"If Xu Zhiyong’s rights were being protected, and if his family wasn’t being threatened, they wouldn’t be so afraid to speak out or share any information with me," Luo said. "This shows that his family is under enormous pressure, and Xu’s situation is far from optimistic. No news usually means the worst."
Xu Zhiyong’s former lawyer, Wang Ying, stated that Xu is not someone who would go on a hunger strike lightly. He has only done so in the past to commemorate the Tiananmen Square massacre on June 4. Wang believes that his decision to resort to a hunger strike now means his circumstances have become unbearable, and she is deeply worried that the prolonged hunger strike will severely damage his health.
"This time, Xu is facing torture, humiliation, and discriminatory treatment, having his communication and visitation rights revoked, among other human rights violations," Wang said. "When he is faced with such intolerable persecution and 'invisible killing,' it’s natural that he would resort to such extreme measures to protest. I know Dr. Xu’s firm belief in resisting tyranny, just as Gandhi and Mandela did before. His mental strength is formidable. But hunger strikes take a heavy toll on health. I am very worried that he could die in prison."
Xu Zhiyong’s Ordeal Reflects China’s Deteriorating Human Rights Situation
Wu Shaoping, a Chinese human rights lawyer based in the U.S., said he has been closely following Xu Zhiyong’s situation. Wu noted that Xu has been subjected to long-term "close surveillance," where even basic activities like using the bathroom and sleeping are constantly monitored and harassed, a form of mental abuse that is both inhumane and cruel. Xu’s basic human dignity and survival rights have been stripped away, and Wu believes that the escalating repression Xu faces is tied to political issues.
"Why are they treating Dr. Xu like this?" Wu asked. "I think a big reason is that Xu wrote an open letter advising Xi Jinping to step down, which provoked retaliation from the highest authorities. Xu Zhiyong is a prime example of someone being tortured in prison, highlighting the fact that human rights in China are deteriorating rapidly and becoming increasingly severe."
UN and Human Rights Groups Can Help Improve Conditions
Pan Jiawei, a visiting scholar at the University of Tokyo, pointed out that Xu’s prolonged hunger strike will have serious long-term effects on his health, similar to what happened with citizen journalist Zhang Zhan. Pan believes that urgent intervention from the United Nations Human Rights Council, its commissioners, and international human rights organizations is needed to support Xu.
"I’ve worked on human rights in China for over 20 years, and I’ve never heard of international attention bringing negative consequences. The main issue is whether the voice is strong enough. If there’s enough pressure, it can certainly improve the conditions for our friends in prison, at least improving their communication rights," Pan said.
All those advocating for Xu Zhiyong hope that the international community and overseas organizations will speak up and pressure the CCP to respect Xu’s basic human rights, ensure he receives proper medical care, and safeguard his right to life and health.
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