Individuals Detained in Mainland China for Supporting Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Protests

A number of Chinese citizens have faced reprisals for supporting the Hong Kong protests for universal suffrage, which began in September 2014. The occupation of several areas in the territory, including parts of its financial and political center, has inspired many Chinese on the mainland to even speak up for democracy in China. Many mainlanders have expressed their support by travelling to Hong Kong to join the protests, or meeting in small gatherings and posting messages on social media, including photos of themselves’ holding signs in support of the protests and demanding constitutional democracy for the territory. Chinese police began detaining these individuals in early October.

To date, CHRD has documented 73 cases of detention in total, including 28 criminal detentions and 3 administrative detentions, along with 32 individuals who remain in some form of police custody. Among these, 11 have been released. Among them, 23 women are in detention for supporting the protests in Hong Kong and humanrights in China. Police have harassed and intimidated countless others by visiting their homes and issuing warnings, or putting them under house arrest. Several have gone into hiding. Individuals are known to have been seized in the municipalities of Beijing, Chongqing, and Shanghai, and the provinces of Anhui, Guangdong, Hunan, and Jiangxi. The majority of the cases are from Beijing.

Violations of Chinese laws

The manner in which nearly half of the 73 individuals who have been detained violates China’s Criminal Procedural Law (CPL), particularly in terms of providing information of detention place and legal status of detention. The CPL stipulates that police must present a detention warrant when taking an individual into custody and also notify the family within 24 hours, unless they are suspected of certain crimes that fall under the category of “endangering state security” or terrorism, or they are incapable of informing the family (Article 83). The majority of the detainees below have been been charged with “creating a disturbance,” a less serious crime than those related to state security, and which is now frequently used to punish outspoken rights advocates. Many of the families of these detainees’ have not received a notice from police, and instead activists have gone to detention centers and confirmed the vast majority of these cases. Police have also threatened many of the families in Beijing after they inquired about their loved ones or tried to hire lawyers.

What should actually happen when a person is detained—as opposed to what often occurs during crackdowns or other politically motivated detentions in China? According to the CPL, police have 24 hours to interrogate a person in custody. If no evidence of criminal activity is found, the individual must be released (Article 84). Eleven individuals on this list were held for under 24 hours and then released. If an individual is not released, police must place them either under criminal detention—charged with a criminal offenses as stipulated in China’s Criminal Law—or administrative detention, charged under the Public Security Administration Punishment Law. A suspect who has been criminally detained can be held for up to a maximum 37 days before they must be either released or formally arrested (Article 89). Administrative detentions can last for up to 15 days, though many individuals under this form of detention in recent crackdowns were held for longer. In this crackdown so far, like in previous ones, police have placed various obstacles to block lawyers from visiting their clients (violating Chapter 4 on Defense and Representation of the CPL, among other laws). If recent cases in 2014 are any guide, police may even detain the lawyers themselves for demanding that their clients receive legal protections and the right to counsel.

CHRD urges the Chinese government to respect its own laws and international human rights standards, and immediately release the detained individuals, who have not committed any crime by exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

List of Mainland supporters detained for supporting Hong Kong protests

The list is organized by location in alphabetical order, starting with municipalities and followed by provinces:

Beijing Municipality:

A group of 20 housing rights and human rights activists met at a restaurant on September 29, when they took photos holding up a sign that reads “Beijing Families of Forced Eviction Support Hong Kong” (pictured above), which were then posted online. Ten of them have been criminally detained on suspicion of “creating a disturbance.” Seven were taken into custody on September 30, while Han Ying, Liu Huizhen, and Zhang Zonggang were seized on October 1. All are being held at the Fengtai District Detention Center.

• Mr. Chen Lianhe (陈连和), housing rights activist
• Ms. Cui Baoti (崔宝弟), housing rights activist
• Ms. Han Ying (韩颖), housing and child rights activist, 2011 independent candidate for Beijing National People’s Congress elections, founder of an NGO
• Ms. Han Shuqing (韩淑清), housing rights activist
• Ms. Guo Zhiying (郭志英), housing rights activist
• Mr. Jiang Liuying (姜流勇), housing rights activist (husband of Li Dongmei)
• Ms. Li Dongmei (李冬梅), housing and women’s rights activist (wife of Jiang Liuying)
• Ms. Liu Huizhen (刘惠珍), housing rights activist
• Ms. Wu Xiaoping (吴小平), housing rights activist
• Mr. Zhang Zonggang (张宗钢), housing rights activist

Six activists who attended a dinner on September 30 to celebrate the release from prison of Mr. Yuan Dong (袁冬), a New Citizens’ Movement participant, were later detained. At least 60 people gathered at a restaurant in Daxing District, with some holding signs supporting the protests in Hong Kong (pictured above).

• Mr. Guo Hongwei (郭洪伟), petitioner-activist originally from Jilin Province, taken into custody on September 30 on suspicion of “creating a disturbance.” Held at Fengtai District Detention Center.
• Mr. Wu Jixin (吴继新), activist from Jiangsu Province, taken into custody on September 30 on suspicion of “creating a disturbance.” Held at Fengtai District Detention Center.
• Ms. Li Yufeng (李玉凤), petitioner activist from Hunan Province, is being held at Daxing District Detention Center.
• Ms. Xiao Yunling (肖蕴苓), Guo’s 77-year mother, seized at the same time as Guo and held for over 12 hours before she was released.
• Ms. Wang Su’e (王素娥), petitioner activist, seized on October 3 after she left a Christian home church service. Held at the Daxing District Detention Center.
• Mr. Wang Yonghong (王永红), activist, criminally detained late in the night of October 11, and police later searched his home. Held in the Daxing District Detention Center.

Starting on October 1, police in Beijing’s Songzhuang art colony have been detaining artists for expressing support for the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. To date, 13 are known to still be in custody.

• Mr. Wang Zang (王藏), artists and poet originally from Yunnan Province, detained October 1 on suspicion of “creating a disturbance.” Home searched after being taken into custody, and now held at Beijing No. 1 Detention Center.

• Ms. Zhang Miao (张淼), news assistant with German magazine Die Zeit, detained on October 2 on suspicion of “creating a disturbance.” Held at Beijing No. 1 Detention Center.
• Mr. Cui Guangxia (崔广厦), artist, taken into custody on suspicion of “creating a disturbance” on October 2. Held at Beijing No. 1 Detention Center.
• Mr. Zhu Yanguang (朱雁光), artist, taken into custody on suspicion of “creating a disturbance” on October 2. Held at Beijing No. 1 Detention Center.
• Mr. Fei Xiaosheng (费晓胜), artist, taken into custody on suspicion of “creating a disturbance” on October 2. Held at Beijing No. 1 Detention Center.
• Mr. Ren Zhongyuan (任重远), artist, taken into custody on suspicion of “creating a disturbance” on October 2. Held at Tongzhou District Detention Center.
• Mr. Ding Ding (丁酊, aka Ding Weibing 丁伟兵), artist, taken into custody on suspicion of “creating a disturbance” in the early morning of October 6. Police searched his residence and confiscated a computer, a hard drive from a notebook computer, and a camera memory card. Held in Beijing No. 1 Detention Center.

• Ms. Wang Lin (王琳), art director originally from Hubei Province, was taken into custody on October 7 on suspicion of “creating a disturbance.” Detention is reportedly due to her attendance at a poetry event on October 2 held in support of the Hong Kong movement. Held at Beijing No. 1 Detention Center.

• Mr. Lü Shang (吕上), artist, taken into police custody on October 8 on suspicion of unknown charges. Held at Beijing No. 1 Detention Center.
• Mr. Zhui Hun (追魂), artist, taken into police custody on October 8 on suspicion of unknown charges. Held at Beijing No. 1 Detention Center.
• Mr. Li Lei (李磊), artist, taken into police custody on October 8 on suspicion of unknown charges. Held at Beijing No. 1 Detention Center.

• Mr. Kuang Laowu (邝老五), Tibetan artist, taken into custody on October 11 and police searched his home the same day. Held on suspicion of unknown charges in an unknown location.

• Mr. Ouyang Xiaorong (欧阳晓戎), writer focusing on freedom and poet, taken into custody with Kuang Laowu on October 11 and released later.
• Mr. Zhang Haiying (张海鹰), artist, taken into custody on October 11. Held on suspicion of unknown charges at an unknown location.

Images of Songzhuang artists supporting Hong Kong, many of whom were detained as a result and are on this list:

Group photo of Songzhuang artists after a performance with a small sign supporting Hong Kong.

Photo of Songzhuang artists during an art performance in support of Hong Kong pro-democracy protests.

Petitioners have been detained for joining an October 1 demonstration in Lü Village, Fengtai District:

• Mr. Jiang Jiawen (姜家文), petitioner from Liaoning Province, criminally detained on a charge of “creating a disturbance” on October 2, a day after being seized. Held in Daxing District Detention Center.

• Ms. Hou Minling (侯敏玲), petitioner from Gansu Province, seized on October 3 and criminally detained the next day on a charge of “creating a disturbance.” Held at Daxing District Detention Center.

Petitioners have been detained for holding up signs outside Beijing South Railway Station on October 2:

• Ms. Ran Chongbi (冉崇碧), petitioner from Guangdong Province, taken to the Zhujiafen Police Station in Fengtai District on October 2 with Wang Fang. Held at the Fengtai District Detention Center.
• Ms. Wang Fang (王芳), petitioner from Hubei Province, taken to the Zhujiafen Police Station in Fengtai District on October 2.Wang’s status is unclear.

Two activists detained at Peking University campus:

• Ms. Ling Lisha (凌丽莎), arts editor, taken away on October 2 after she posted sign in support of Hong Kong on the campus of Peking University with Zhang Qibin. Believed to be under criminal detention at Beijing No. 1 Detention Center.
• Mr. Zhang Qibin (张启斌), employee at unnamed foundation, taken away on October 2 after he posted signs in support of Hong Kong on the campus of Peking University with Ling Lisha. Believed to be under criminal detention at Beijing No. 1 Detention Center.

Staff from the Transition Institute, an independent research center, have been detained:

• Mr. Guo Yushan (郭玉闪), scholar, democracy activist, and director of the Transition Institute, taken into custody and criminally detained on October 9 for “creating a disturbance.” Held at Beijing No. 1 Detention Center.
• Mr. Huang Kaiping (黄凯平), manager of the Transition Institute, taken away by police from the institute’s offices on October 10. Held on suspicion of unknown charges in an unknown location.

Several intellectuals in Beijing have been detained:

• Ms. Kou Yanding (寇延丁), writer, criminally detained on suspicion of “creating a disturbance” on October 9. Held in an unknown location.
• Chen Kun (陈堃), Liren College professor focusing on democracy, taken into custody at some point between October 9 -12. Held in an unknown location.
• Xue Ye (薛野), poetry editor from Peking University, taken into custody at some point between October 9 -12. Held in an unknown location.

Several individuals were taken from the Dao Heng Law Firm:

• Mr. Yu Wensheng (余文生), lawyer, taken into custody on October 13 from the offices of the Dao Heng Law Firm. Reportedly criminally detained on unknown charges. Held at Daxing District Detention Center.

• Mr. Song Ze (宋泽, aka Song Guangqiang 宋光强) activist, taken into custody on October 13 from the offices of the Dao Heng Law Firm. Reportedly criminally detained on unknown charges. Held at Daxing District Detention Center.

• Mr. Li Duilong (李对龙), lawyer, taken into custody on October 13 from the offices of the Dao Heng Law Firm. Released the next day.
• Mr. Wang Cheng (王成), lawyer, taken into custody on October 13 from the offices of the Dao Heng Law Firm. Released the next day.

The following individuals have also been detained:

• Ms. Wang Jinling (王金玲), petitioner from Heilongjiang Province, criminally detained on October 19 on suspicion of “creating a disturbance.” Initially taken into custody on October 9 after holding up a banner in Beijing’s financial district that said “Hong Kong: We Are With You.” Held at Chaoyang District Detention Center.

• Mr. Pei Fugui (裴富贵), activist, taken from home early on October 2. Police later that day searched Pei’s house, taking away a desktop computer and two hard drives. Police refused to inform the family of his status until October 10, when they verbally confirmed that he was criminally detained on suspicion of “creating a disturbance.” His detention is related to an October 1 gathering of activists outside Pei’s home in support of Hong Kong. Held at Fengtai District Detention Center.

• Mr. Xu Chongyang (徐崇阳), activist, seized on October 2. Held at Fengtai District Detention Center.

• Mr. Wang Chongxi (王崇喜), activist, seized on October 2. Held at Fengtai District Detention Center.

Chongqing Municipality:

• Ms. Luo Yaling (罗亚玲), activist, now under criminal detention after she was released at end of 10-day administrative detention on October 11. First taken away on September 30 after she expressed support online for the protests in Hong Kong and uploaded photos of herself and Xie Dan supporting the Hong Kong protests (pictured above, far left). National security officers initially kept Luo under soft detention at her home, and later she was taken to Daxin Village Police Station and then the Chongqing No. 1 Detention & Drug Rehabilitation Center. Now held in unknown location.

• Mr. Xie Dan (谢丹), activist, given 10-day administrative detention penalty for uploading photos of with Luo Yaling showing support for the Hong Kong protests (pictured above, far right). Held at Chongqing No. 1 Detention & Drug Rehabilitation Center before being released on October 11. Police initially questioned him on September 30.

Shanghai Municipality:

• Mr. Liu Shihui (刘士辉), lawyer, went to Chen Jianfang (陈建芳)’s home along with Jiangsu activist Le Senping on September 30 to try to stop police from detaining her after Chen called on activists to join a demonstration on October 1 in the Shanghai People’s Park in support of the Hong Kong demonstrators. Briefly taken into custody with Ms. Le Senping (below) and later released.

• Ms. Le Senping (乐森萍), activist from Jiangsu, went to Chen Jianfang (陈建芳)’s home along with Liu Shihui on September 30 to try to stop police from detaining her after Chen had called on activists to join a demonstration on October 1 in the Shanghai People’s Park in support of the Hong Kong demonstrators. Briefly taken into custody with Liu Shihui and later released.

• Ms. Shen Yanqiu (沈艳秋), activist, plainclothes police took her away on September 30. Shen shaved her head on September 28 and posted a photo of herself online to show solidarity with Hong Kong protestors. Held in an unknown location.

Anhui Province:

Anhui police criminally summoned two activists on October 5 for questioning on suspicion of “creating a disturbance” for supporting the Hong Kong protestors. Both were held at the Baohe Public Security Sub-Bureau in Anhui Province before being released early the next day, after about six hours of interrogation.

• Mr. Shen Liangqing (沈良庆), activist, his desktop computer and camera memory card were seized during a police search on October 5.
• Mr. Yin Chun (伊春), activist, his desktop computer and tablet were seized during a police search on October 5.

Guangdong Province:

Foshan City

• Mr. Jia Pin (贾榀), activist with “Southern Street Movement,” taken into custody on October 9. Later criminally detained on suspicion of “creating a disturbance.” Likely detained because he had planned to travel to Nanjing to join a demonstration. Held in Nanhai District Detention Center.

•  Ms. Su Changlan (苏昌兰), activist, criminally summoned for the third time on October 27 on suspicion of “creating a disturbance” and had her home searched and three laptops seized. Criminally detained the next day on suspicion of “inciting subversion of state power.” Active leader in Guangdong pro-Hong Kong activities. Held in Guicheng Police Station in Nanhai District.

On October 14, police took into custody four individuals believed to have gone to Hong Kong on September 30.

• Ms. Ye Liumei (叶六妹), activist, seized in the morning of October 14 and later criminally detained. Police searched her home. Held at Tongji Police Station of the Chancheng Sub-Bureau of the Foshan City Public Security Bureau.
• Mr. Liang Zhuosen (梁灼森), activist, seized in the morning of October 14 and later criminally detained. Held at Tongji Police Station of the Chancheng Sub-Bureau of the Foshan City Public Security Bureau.
• Ms. Guo Huizhen (郭惠珍), activist, seized in the morning of October 14 and later criminally detained. Held at Tongji Police Station of the Chancheng Sub-Bureau of the Foshan City Public Security Bureau.
• Mr. Chen Qitang (陈启棠, aka Tian Li天理), activist, seized in the afternoon and given a 10-day administrative detention. Police searched his home, seizing a laptop computer. Held in Xiantang Town in the Shunde District of Foshan.

Guangzhou

Guangzhou police seized dozens of activists and citizens who gathered in the Martyr Memorial Gardens to show support for the Hong Kong protestors on September 30. While reportedly up to 20 citizens were seized and taken to unknown locations, CHRD confirmed the detentions of two individuals.

• Huang Minpeng (黄敏鹏), activist, taken to Datang Police Station in Yuexiu District with Liu Hui, where they were denied food before being released in the afternoon.
• Liu Hui (刘辉) taken to Datang Police Station in Yuexiu District with Huang Minpeng, where they were denied food before being released in the afternoon.

On October 3, plainclothes police officers took three men into custody from a residence in Xintang County in Guangzhou. They were criminally detained for holding up a banner in a Guangzhou park that called for freedom and support for the Hong Kong protesters. All three are activists with the “Southern Street Movement” group and are being held at Yuexiu District Detention Center.

• Wang Mo (王默), activist (pictured, far left)
• Sun Liyong (孙立勇), activist
• Xie Wenfei (谢文飞), activist, (pictured, second right) has been tortured and mistreated while in the detention center. According to his lawyer, Wu Kuiming (吴魁明), Xie’s arms and legs were each shackled eight centimeters away from iron rings, with his legs fastened together, in total for over 100 hours. He was given periodic access to water, the bathroom and allowed to sleep and change clothes, except for a 20-hour stretch when he was kept shackled.

The following individuals were detained:

• Mr. Zhang Shengyu (张圣雨), activist, plainclothes police seized him on October 3 while Zhang was walking down a street in Guangzhou. He had recently posted a photo of himself holding a sign backing Hong Kong and Beijing activist Han Ying, who had been detained days earlier. As on October 28, authorities have still not confirmed Zhang’s location or allowed a meeting with his lawyer, Liu Zhengqing (刘正清). Held in unknown location.

• Mr. Sun Tao (孙涛), activist with “Southern Street Movement,” taken into police custody on October 23 from home in Fujian Province by police from Fujian and Guangdong Province. Now criminally detained in Guangzhou. Held at Yuexiu District Detention Center.

Shenzhen

• Mr. Wang Long (汪龙), freelance journalist, criminally detained on the charge of “creating a disturbance” on September 29 after he posted messages online about the Hong Kong protests. Held at Longgang District Detention Center.

Hunan Province:

• Mr. Liu Donghui (刘东辉), activist, Yueyang City police criminally detained him on October 12 on a charge of “creating a disturbance.” His detention is reportedly related to his recent trip to Hong Kong to support the protests. Held at Yunxi District Detention Center.

Jiangxi Province:

Jiangxi Province police seized three men on September 30 after they posted photos of themselves holding up signs in support of the Hong Kong protests. It is unknown where they are being held.

• Song Ningsheng (宋宁生), activist, his home was searched.

• Mr. Gong Xinhua (龚新华), activist
• Mr. Chen Maosen (陈茂森), activist