(Hunan – June 29, 2025) Prominent Chinese human rights lawyer Xie Yang has been detained for more than 1,200 days, during which he has been subjected to torture and has yet to receive a fair trial. Chen Guiqiu, with knowledge of his case, revealed photos of Xie Yang taken during his second detention, showing that his appearance has become unrecognizable. The persecution Xie Yang has endured reflects how Chinese authorities have “weaponized” the National Security Law to arbitrarily violate human rights and suppress dissent. The international community has expressed grave concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in China.
Who Is Xie Yang and the Circumstances of His Arrest
Born in 1973 in Hunan Province, Xie Yang is a well-known Chinese human rights lawyer who has long focused on and represented sensitive cases. He has provided legal assistance to political prisoners, victims of religious persecution, and land rights defenders. He is widely respected for his steadfast support of vulnerable groups and his firm commitment to the rule of law.
Xie Yang’s past cases include defending lawyers arrested in the “709 Crackdown,” representing dissidents, and advocating for the rights of Christians. The nature of his work has consistently touched on issues deemed sensitive by Chinese authorities.
Lawyer Xie Yang’s arrest this time and prolonged detention are closely linked to the Chinese government’s ongoing suppression of the human rights lawyer community. During the 2015 “709 Crackdown,” Xie Yang was among the first lawyers arrested. He was charged with “inciting subversion of state power” and became a focus of international attention after reports emerged that he had been tortured in custody, such as being subjected to sleep deprivation, beatings, and threats against his family. Although he was later released on bail, his personal freedom and right to practice law remained severely restricted.
Since his detention began in 2021, the specific charges against Xie Yang remain unclear. However, it is widely believed that his continued involvement in human rights cases led to his re-arrest, particularly his public show of support in 2021 for Li Tiantian, a pregnant teacher suspected of being forcibly institutionalized under the guise of mental illness. His detention may also be due to his disclosure of torture during previous incarceration. These actions are seen by observers as the Chinese authorities’ way of exacting revenge and using him as a warning to others.
Chen Guiqiu chose to release photos of Xie Yang ahead of the tenth anniversary of the 709 Crackdown. The drastic change in his appearance has drawn widespread public concern over the abuse he may be suffering in prison.
UN Sends Letter of Concern: A Challenge to the Rule of Law in China
In response to Xie Yang’s situation, on September 20, 2024, five United Nations special procedures jointly sent a letter to the Chinese government, expressing deep concern over his detention conditions, prolonged arbitrary detention, and the deprivation of his procedural rights. The letter explicitly stated that these actions are in serious violation of international human rights law and called on the Chinese government to respond and immediately take steps to end the violations. However, to date, the Chinese government has not publicly responded or taken substantive measures to address the concerns.
The case of Xie Yang is a typical example of the widespread persecution currently faced by human rights defenders in China. Authorities routinely “weaponize” the National Security Law, using vague notions of “national security” to justify forced disappearances, torture, arbitrary detention, and the denial of due process against dissidents, lawyers, independent journalists, and activists. Worse still, they extend collective punishment to family members and colleagues, creating a chilling effect and suppressing civil society as a whole.
Torture Under International Conventions: China government’s Responsibility
On June 26, 1987, the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment officially came into effect. As one of the first signatories, China is obligated to prohibit all forms of torture. Yet the reality is grim: instead of honoring this commitment, the Chinese government has increasingly strengthened its use of harsh and arbitrary laws. Under the pretext of vague “national security” threats, it has expanded the power of administrative enforcement and legitimized practices such as “residential surveillance at a designated location” and other forms of arbitrary and prolonged detention, enabling torture to persist in judicial proceedings.
Xie Yang’s case represents a grave challenge to both international human rights conventions and China’s own legal commitments. The international community continues to monitor the case, calling on the Chinese government to respect human rights, immediately release Xie Yang, and end its persecution of human rights lawyers and dissenting voices.
(Reported by Special Correspondent Gao Zhensai of ChinaAid)
