China Archives - Committee of Concerned Scientists

Two Human Rights Lawyers Formally Charged in China

Wang Yu, lawyer for Ilham Tohti, and Li Heping, lawyer for Chen Guangcheng, were detained by Chinese authorities in July 2015. CCS, at that time, wrote a letter requesting their release.

During 2015, the Committee of Concerned Scientists continued to advocate on behalf of scientists, academics, engineers and physicians. We wrote in concern for more than 21 individuals or groups of individuals, located in 11 countries.

Ilham Tohti, an Economics professor formerly at Minzu University in Beijing, and an advocate for the rights of the Chinese Uighur community, still sits in jail, sentenced to a life in prison for expressing his beliefs in a peaceful way.

Wife of Jailed Uyghur Scholar Faces Severe Hardship

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The wife of Ilham Tohti, an Economics Professor and an advocate for the Uyghur community in China, who is facing a life sentence for speakiing out for their rights in a peaceful way, is facing severe financial hardship.

Human Rights Attorneys Charged with “Subversion of State Power”

Wang Yu and Li Heping are human rights attorneys in China who have defended scholars and academics whom CCS has also advocated for. Both attorneys were detained in 2015 and have been held incommunicado for almost a year.

Wang Yu, Human Rights Attorney Awaiting Trial in China, Receiving ABA Award

American Bar Association earlier this month announced it is giving the organization’s first ever “International Human Rights Award” to Chinese human rights lawyer Wang Yu. CCS has advocated for Wang Yu’s release since she was detained in June 2015.

Chinese Human Rights Activist Attorney Released After Issuing Coerced Confession

The Committee of Concerned Scientists welcomes the release on bail of the Chinese human rights lawyer, Wang Yu. We commend Wang Yu for her work on defending freedom of speech in China and express our sympathy to her in connection with the pressure she endured in prison.

Ilham Tohti, Peaceful Advocate for Uighur Community, Wins Martin Ennals Award; also a Finalist for Sakharov Prize

Ilham Tohti, a peaceful advocate of China’s Uighur community, currently serving a life sentence in a Chinese prison, was awarded the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders by a group of human rights organizations; Tohti was also a finalist for the prestigious Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

Li Heping, Attorney for Ilham Tohti, Suffering Medical Complications

It has been communicated to CCS that Li Heping, human rights attorney for Ilham Tohti, now serving time himself for human rights work, allegedly has been tortured and is suffering from medical complications as a result.

Deng Xiaochao, Art Professor in China, Removed From Position for Criticizing Mao Zedong on Public Blog

Professor Deng Xiaochao, a 62-year-old art professor at the Shandong Jianzhu University, was fired for posting a statement on the microblog, Weibo, criticizing Mao Zedong. Xiaochao has the right to express himself peacefully – that is an admirable trait for teachers of higher learning.

CCS, With Others Across the World, Mourns the Death of Chinese Dissident, Liu Xiaobo

The Committee of Concerned Scientists mourns the death of Chinese Dissident, Liu Xiaobo from Liver Cancer. The following PBS article, noting the views of many human rights groups expresses the loss well: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/liu-xiaobo-nobel-laureate-chinese-dissident-dies-61/

Ilham Tohti To Receive the Weimar Human Rights Award

The City of Weimar awards a Human Rights award annually. This year the City of Weimar, in Germany, decided to award the prize to Ilham Tohti for advocating for peaceful co-existence between the Uighur, Hans and all other ethnic group communities in China.

Economics Professor at Guizhou University – Classes Cancelled – No Explanation

Dr. Yang Shaozheng, an Economics professor at the Institute of Economics at Guizhou University, had his classes cancelled without explanation and has been questioned on several occasions by the city police in connection to his writings.

Founder of HR Website Detained for Allegedly “Leaking State Secrets”

Huang Qi, a computer engineer in China, has been detained since November 2016. He was arrested allegedly for his role as founder of a human rights focused website, 64 Tianwang.

US Scientist Leaves US After Petty Felony Conviction

Chunzai Wang, an expert on climate change and hurricanes, had been employed at NOAA for the past 17 years. Dr. Wang is a naturalized US citizen. He won the Employee of the Year Award at NOAA in 2012 and a second award at NOAA in 2013.

NOAA Scientist Wins Case – Ordered To Be Reinstated to Job With Back Pay Granted

NOAA scientist, Sherry Chen, was wrongfully arrested and as a result lost her position at NOAA. She was accused by the US government of spying for China. After an investigation it was found by the Justice Department that she was innocent and she was released.

Uyghur Writer and Scholar Arrested and Sent to Re-Education Camp

Abdulqadir Jalaleddin, a prominent Uyghur writer and scholar who was arrested in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in January has not been seen since that time. It was reported that he was sent to a re-education camp, but there have been no official statements as to his status or whereabouts.

Committee of 100, the United Chinese Americans, the Ohio Chinese American Association and Nine Additional Community Groups, Demand Justice for Sherry Chen

Numerous organizations were outraged and are demanding justice for a Chinese-American, award-winning hydrologist, Sherry Chen. In 2014, she was falsely accused of spying for China. The charges were dropped in 2015.

Wang Yu On Travel Ban, Can’t Visit Son at College in Australia

Wang Yu, one of the Human Rights attorneys who was detained in the round-up of human rights lawyers in China in July 2015 was released after providing a forced confession following two years in detention.

Prominent Chinese Brain Scientist Denied Visa to Attend U.S. Professional Conference

Dr. Rao Yi, a prominent Chinese brain scientist, who studied in the United States, got his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of California, San Francisco; his postdoc at Harvard; was on the faculty at Washington University in St.

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