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. They have now been formally arrested with charges that could result in life sentences. January 22, 2016 President Xi Jinping The State Council General’s Office 2 Fuyoujie, Xichengqu Beijingshi ... Continue Reading>>
Letter of Commendation to US Ambassador for Support of Detained Human Rights Attorneys
The Committee of Concerned Scientists wrote a letter to commend the US Ambassador to China, The Honorable Max Baucus, for taking a position and making a public statement in support of the detained Human Rights attorneys in China. Specifically, he mentioned the two attorneys for whom we have advocated in the past – Wang Yu who was the attorney for Ilham Tohti and Li Heping who was the attorney for ... Continue Reading>>
Nephew of Chinese Lawyer and Activist Chen Released from Prison
The nephew of the blind lawyer and activist Chen Guangcheng, who was arrested following his uncle's escape from illegal detention, was released from prison on Wednesday, September 16, 2015. Chen Kegui was released after serving a three-year, three-month sentence that was widely seen as retribution for his uncle's daring escape from house arrest. Chen said in an email from the United States that ... Continue Reading>>
Good News: Beijing Releases Chinese Scholar Who Helped Lawyer-Activist Chen Flee
Guo Yushan, the Chinese scholar who assisted the lawyer and activist Chen Guangcheng flee from illegal detention was released from prison on September 14, 2015, according to his lawyer, Li Jin. Jin said that she did not know why Guo was released or if there was any link to Xi Jinping's United States visit. Related articles Beijing releases activist on eve of Chinese president's visit to US ... Continue Reading>>
China Arrests Two Human Rights Lawyers on Unspecified Charges
The Chinese Government arrested Li Heping, attorney for Chen Guangcheng, and Wang Yu, attorney for Ilham Tohti, for, as yet, unspecified charges. A general arrest of more than 225 Human Rights attorneys took place in China in mid-Spring this year. Many were detained, questioned, and some released. Li Heping and Wang Yu have not been released and their whereabouts are undisclosed. It is reported ... Continue Reading>>
2013 Annual Report
Summaries of 2013 Cases The Committee of Concerned Scientists advocated for sixteen individuals or groups during 2013 in ten countries. This reduced caseload enabled us to focus on several individual cases in which CCS had taken the lead and fostered cooperation with other human rights organizations. We were also able to cover events concerning human rights issues that were germane to our cases ... Continue Reading>>
Secretary John Kerry to Discuss Chen Guangchen’s Nephew Chen Kegui with China
In his talk at the New School on February 6, 2013 (see our posting summarizing that event), the blind Chinese lawyer Chen Guangcheng expressed great concern about the arrest and sentencing of his nephew, Chen Kegui, by local authorities in home Chen's province. He believes that attacks on Chen's family members and unfair trial and sentencing of his nephew were actions taken in retaliation for ... Continue Reading>>
Chen Guangcheng Calls Rule of Law Essential in China for Human Rights
Blind Chinese lawyer Chen Guangcheng, who is studying at NYU law school under asylum in the US, gave a talk on February 6, 2013, at the New School in New York City on “The Future of the Rule of Law and Human Rights in China.” CCS had advocated on behalf of granting asylum to Chen in 2012, when he fled from house arrest and mistreatment by Chinese authorities to the US Embassy in Beijing. Chen ... Continue Reading>>