BEIJING / GENEVA — Prominent Chinese human rights lawyer Yu Wensheng is expected to be released today, April 13, 2026, after serving a three-year sentence for "inciting subversion of state power."

In a joint statement, a coalition of 25 international civil society organizations—including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and ARTICLE 19—has called on Chinese authorities to ensure his immediate reunification with his family and an end to the extralegal harassment that has targeted his household for nearly a decade.

A Legacy of Defending the Rule of Law

Yu Wensheng is a celebrated figure in the global legal community, known for representing victims of the "709 Crackdown" and advocating for constitutional reforms to strengthen checks on state power. His commitment to justice earned him the 2021 Martin Ennals Award and the 2018 Franco-German Prize for Human Rights.

However, his advocacy has met with severe state retaliation. This marks the second time since 2018 that Yu has been deprived of his liberty. His current imprisonment began on April 13, 2023, when he and his wife, Xu Yan, were detained while en route to a meeting with European Union officials in Beijing.

The Toll on Family and Health

The detention has had a devastating impact on the family:

• Xu Yan: Released in January 2025 after serving 21 months, Xu has reported losing 14kg during her detention and faces ongoing unlawful surveillance. Despite passing her legal qualifications, authorities have refused to issue her formal certificate, hampering her ability to earn an income.

• Their Son: Now 18, the couple’s son has suffered a serious deterioration in mental health, exacerbated by the isolation experienced while both parents were imprisoned.

• Prison Conditions: Reports from Zhenjiang Prison indicate that Yu was denied adequate heat, nutrition, and daily necessities, conditions that international observers say may amount to ill-treatment or torture.

International Legal Context

The case has drawn sharp criticism from UN experts. In July 2025, the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers expressed deep concern over the "patterns of repression and criminalization of legal professionals" in China.

Global bodies continue to call for the repeal of Article 105(2) of China’s Criminal Law (inciting subversion) and the vague charge of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble, "both of which are frequently used to silence human rights defenders.

Our Demands

The undersigned organizations urge the Chinese government to:

1. Guarantee Freedom of Movement: Ensure Yu Wensheng can return to his home in Beijing without additional restrictions or "supplemental" sentences.

2. Protect the Right to Health: End the surveillance and harassment of Yu, Xu Yan, and their son, ensuring their full access to medical and psychological support.

3. Uphold International Treaties: Abide by obligations under the Convention against Torture and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

GPN Context:  This case is a primary focus of GPN’s Article 19 mission. The criminalization of legal counsel and the use of state surveillance to deter diplomatic interaction represent a direct threat to the global "Right to Life & Security" and "Press Freedom" pillars.