Chinese authorities are considering further legal action against two prominent dissidents. Prosecutors are deliberating a potential jail sentence for human rights lawyer Lu Siwei and the arrest of citizen journalist Zhang Zhan, according to reports from VOA News.
These developments are seen by many as part of a broader campaign by the Chinese government to suppress voices of dissent. Bob Fu, founder of the Texas-based human rights organization ChinaAid, told VOA, “Beijing is trying to warn dissidents that if they try to defend the rule of law or freedom of expression, they could be arrested or imprisoned.”
Lu Siwei, known for handling high-profile cases, attempted to flee China last year but was arrested in Laos and deported back to China, despite possessing a valid US visa and Chinese passport. His wife, Zhang Chunxiao, reports that since his release on bail, Lu has been under intense surveillance, with authorities monitoring his movements around the clock.
Zhang Zhan, who was previously imprisoned for four years after covering the initial COVID-19 lockdown in Wuhan, now faces the threat of re-arrest. She recently disclosed on social media that Shanghai police had warned her about crossing certain “red lines.”
Human rights experts express grave concern over these cases. Yaqiu Wang, research director for China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan at Freedom House, commented on Lu’s situation: “His case shows that under Chinese President Xi Jinping’s rule, even a peaceful human rights lawyer would be arrested in a foreign country for trying to reunite with his family in the United States.”
The Chinese Embassy in Washington, however, denies allegations of transnational repression. Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu stated, “China abides by international law and fully respects the law enforcement sovereignty of other countries.”
(Inputs from ANI)