ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN
Xi Jinping is visiting the United States to meet President Trump in Washington, D.C. Xi arrives the evening of Sept. 23. This is his first official state visit in more than a decade.
HRF’s campaign, focused on eight prisoners of conscience, provides a counterpoint to Xi Jinping’s visit to the United States, which is framed primarily around trade, tech, and great-power diplomacy. The campaign ensures Xi’s human rights abuses are visible and aims to hold him and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) accountable for their actions.
The eight prisoners of conscience are a student, a legislator, a professor, a doctor, an artist, and three pastors who have been locked up by Xi’s government for ordinary actions that are protected by international human rights law. They are innocent people defined by their passions and livelihoods — all now arbitrarily detained by the CCP. These individuals serve as a powerful reminder of the thousands of everyday citizens who have been unjustly imprisoned by the CCP on sham or outright false charges. Their stories show the breadth of the CCP’s laws that target any form of activism and the lengths that the CCP is willing to go to silence dissent.
As Xi sits down with President Trump, HRF has one simple request: Release them.
JOSHUA WONG
Born
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Role
Detained since
November 23, 2020
Charges
Personal fact
Status
Information
Context
Wong became a public figure at 14, leading a successful student campaign against a compulsory national education curriculum. He co-founded the political party Demosistō and was one of the faces of the 2014 Umbrella Movement. Over more than a decade, Wong has been arrested and detained multiple times for his peaceful activism and for advocating for democratic reform. He has been detained continuously since Nov. 23, 2020, his imprisonment prolonged repeatedly for peacefully protesting, attending a Tiananmen Square Vigil, and participating in unofficial pro-democracy primaries in 2020. In November 2024, as part of the mass sentencing of the “Hong Kong 47,” he was sentenced to 4 years and 8 months for “conspiracy to commit subversion.” In June 2025, while imprisoned, he was charged again, this time with “colluding with foreign forces,” for lobbying foreign governments in 2020 — conduct that had ended the very day his detention began. He pleaded guilty on Sept. 2, 2026, and now faces up to life in prison.
The case
- The alleged crime is freedom of expression and association — attempting to run in a democratic primary election, calling for democratic governments to sanction Hong Kong, and attending peaceful protests and gatherings.
- Wong has been detained since November 2024, and would be due for release in January 2027.
- He was re-arrested while already in prison in June 2025, five years after the alleged conduct, and now could face a life sentence.
PASTOR GAO QUANFU
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Role
Detained since
Charges
Status
Information
Context
The Light of Zion Church, which Pastor Gao Quanfu founded, refused to conform and register under the Chinese Communist Party’s oversight.
According to his son, Gao Pu, Pastor Gao Quanfu has long been threatened and intimidated by the Chinese government, since as early as 2008.
Pastor Gao Quanfu’s wife, Pang Yu, is also currently detained, on false government accusations of being an “accomplice” and “fraud” for accepting voluntary offerings from his congregants.
PASTOR WANG LIN
Born
Role
Detained since
Charges
Personal fact
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Context
Pastor Wang Lin is a former lawyer who earned a doctorate in theology at Wheaton College.
He was detained during the nationwide Zion Church raids in October 2025 and later held in Beihai. Prosecutors indicted him on fraud and illegal business operations following an initial allegation from an information network. Church members say the disputed funds were voluntary offerings. A hearing planned for August was postponed; he remains in pre-trial detention.
His wife and son fled to Thailand, fearing prosecution.
PASTOR GAO YINGJIA
Born
Role
Detained since
Charges
Personal fact
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Context
Pastor Gao Yingjia is a physicist, trained at Peking University, who later became a Zion Church pastor.
He was detained during the nationwide Zion Church raids in October 2025 and later held in Beihai. Prosecutors indicted him on July 17; the case reframes church offerings and ministry activities as fraud and illegal business operations. A hearing planned for August was postponed; he remains in pre-trial detention.
GAO ZHEN
Born
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Detained since
Charges
Personal fact
Status
Information
Context
The case
- The prosecution relied on three satirical works about Mao that were created a decade before the legal provisions used against Gao Zhen were enacted. These works are now all privately owned in the United States.
- His one-day “trial” took place on Mar. 30. The judgment followed two years of pretrial detention. His lawyers announced an appeal; if unchanged, the detention period means his term is expected to end in August 2027.
- Gao Zhen’s health is severely deteriorating. He has serious back and knee problems, and has collapsed and vomited blood in custody. He is not allowed to communicate directly with his wife and son, and communication with his lawyer is tightly restricted.
GULSHAN ABBAS
Born
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Detained since
Charges
Personal fact
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Information
Context
The case
- Dr. Gulshan Abbas’ 2019 trial and sentence were secret; the family learned of the 20-year prison sentence a year later.
- UN experts found the detention arbitrary and called for her release, citing grave due process and discrimination concerns.
- She has several chronic health conditions.
ILHAM TOHTI
Born
From
Role
Detained since
Charges
Personal fact
Status
Information
Context
The case
- Ilham Tohti was previously detained and disappeared for a period in 2009 after the regime accused his website, Uyghur Online, of contributing to unrest following the July 2009 Ürümchi riots; he was released after international pressure.
- A UN Working Group found his detention to be arbitrary. The European Parliament awarded him the 2019 Sakharov Prize.
- His family has not been allowed to visit since 2017; restricted access makes reports of isolation and poor health difficult to verify independently.
OWEN CHOW
Born
From
Role
Detained since
Charges
Personal fact
Status
Information
Context
The case
- Owen Chow was arrested as part of the infamous HK47 in 2021 and charged with “conspiracy to commit subversion.”
- He was initially released on bail on extremely stringent conditions, including not posting on social media, reporting to the police station every day between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., observing a curfew from 12 a.m. to 7 a.m., not leaving Hong Kong, and surrendering all travel documents.
- He was sentenced to 7 years and 9 months, the second-longest sentence among the HK47.
- He appealed his sentence and conviction, but the appeals were denied. He plans to appeal again.
WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE
1
Generate significant coverage in Washington, D.C., nationally, and internationally of these specific prisoners of conscience and their cases.
2
Force human rights onto the agenda of a visit being framed primarily around trade and great-power diplomacy.
3
Humanize the wide range of the innocent individuals who are being arbitrarily imprisoned in China.
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September 14, 2026
AN OPEN LETTER TO CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY GENERAL SECRETARY XI JINPING
Re: Human rights improvements ahead of September 24, 2026 visit to Washington, DC
We, the undersigned organizations dedicated to protecting and promoting human rights, democracy, and religious freedom, write on the occasion of your forthcoming visit to Washington, DC. We urge that ahead of your arrival you agree to release prisoners of conscience, pledge an end to transnational repression, and commit to critical legal reforms, among other actions. Such steps would diminish criticism around the visit of your government’s human rights violations.
Since you assumed power in late 2012, our organizations have documented—and some have lived—your government’s widespread, systematic human rights crimes, which violate domestic and international legal obligations. Tibetans, Uyghurs, and other communities continue to face your government’s atrocity crimes designed to erase their culture, identity, and language, and their rights to free speech and fair trials. Your government’s violations of Hong Kong’s once-vibrant civic culture and free media, and of the rights-defense efforts undertaken by faith leaders and communities, feminists, journalists, lawyers, public health experts, and other activists across China are well-documented. Newly-imposed laws, such as the Ethnic Unity and Progress Law, stand in stark contrast to your government’s obligations under international human rights law. We share United Nations human rights experts’ concerns that the scope and scale of arbitrary detention across China may alone constitute crimes against humanity, and stand in solidarity with victims and survivors across the country.
We are equally concerned about your government’s use of transnational repression and collective punishment to arbitrarily silence speech and limit conduct outside China. Many of the signatories to this letter have been harassed, stalked, or surveilled in the United States by Chinese government or Chinese Communist Party authorities or their proxies. Some US-based activists’ family members in China have been targeted by your government in retaliation for those activists’ work. We are encouraged by the US’ and other governments’ efforts to investigate and prosecute these blatantly extralegal activities, and we will continue to document these violations as long as is necessary.
In order to address these grave concerns, we urge that you take the following steps ahead of your visit:
01
Immediately and unconditionally release prisoners of conscience, human rights defenders, and those arbitrarily detained for family members’ activism, including but not limited to those with a strong connection to the US and whose release has been sought by US lawmakers: Dr. Gulshan Abbas, Ekpar Asat, Chow Hang-tung, Rahile Dawut, Ding Jiaxi, Dong Yuyu, Pastor Gao Quanfu, Gao Zhen, Gao Zhisheng, the 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Niyima, Go Sherab Gyatso, Albert Ho, Jimmy Lai, Lee Cheuk-yan, Min Zin, Ilham Tohti, Lobsang Tsering, Wang Bingzhang, Pastor Wang Yi, Yang Maodong, and the leaders of the Zion Church;02
Announce an intent to repeal or amend laws passed during your leadership that breach international human rights obligations, including but not limited to the 2020 Hong Kong National Security Law and the 2026 Ethnic Unity and Progress Law;
03
Confirm that individuals outside China, including 2007 US Congressional Gold Medal recipient His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, who wish to travel to the country to reunite with family members and communities will be allowed to do so, and do so safely; and04
Publicly affirm prior to arrival in the US that all members of your delegation, and its associates based in the US, will refrain from transnational repression and collective punishment in response to acts of protests and resistance around your visit.Absent such steps we believe your visit will only deepen global public concern about your government’s intentions regarding human rights.As advocacy organizations we are committed to working on behalf of the communities, principles, and laws that form the basis of our work, and to making recommendations for human rights progress. In this spirit we welcome an opportunity to meet directly with you on this visit. We can be reached via [email protected]. -
2026年9月16日
致中国共产党总书记习近平的公开信
主旨：关于在2026年9月24日访问华盛顿特区之前改善人权状况
我们是下列联署组织，长期致力于保护与促进人权、民主及宗教自由。值此您即将访问美国华盛顿特区之际，我们谨致此公开信，敦促您在抵达华盛顿之前作出明确承诺：释放良心犯、终结跨国镇压，推进关键法律改革，并采取其他确切措施。上述举措将有助于缓解此次访问期间外界对贵国政府侵犯人权行为的批评。
自您于2012年底担任中共中央总书记以来，我们各组织持续记录贵国政府广泛而系统性的人权罪行；部分联署组织及其成员更是这些侵害的亲历者。这些行为既违反中国法律，也违背中国依据国际法应承担的义务。
贵国政府持续对藏人、维吾尔人及其他群体实施严重暴行，旨在抹除其文化、身份认同及语言，并剥夺其言论自由及获得公正审判的权利。贵国政府破坏香港一度充满活力的公民社会与新闻自由，并打压中国各地宗教领袖与信仰社群、女权主义者、记者、律师、公共卫生专家及其他倡议者的维权行动；相关侵害均有详实记录。
新近实施的《中华人民共和国民族团结进步促进法》等法律，与中国在国际人权法下承担的义务明显相悖。我们与联合国人权专家同样深感关切：中国各地任意拘押的规模之大、范围之广本身就可能已构成危害人类罪。我们也将持续声援中国各地的受害者及幸存者。
我们同样极为关切贵国政府采取跨国镇压及集体惩罚的手段，任意压制中国境外的言论并限制相关行为。本信许多联署方及其成员曾在美国境内遭到中国政府部门、中国共产党有关机构或其代理人的骚扰、跟踪或监控。部分在美倡议者在中国的家属，因这些倡议者的工作而遭到贵国政府的报复性打击。美国及其他国家政府为调查和起诉此类公然违法的行为，令人鼓舞。我们也将在必要的情况下继续记录这些侵权行为。
为回应上述严重关切，我们敦促您在访美前采取以下措施:
01
立即无条件释放所有良心犯、人权捍卫者，以及因亲属从事倡议活动而遭任意拘留者。重点个案包括但不限于与美国有密切联系、且美国国会议员曾呼吁释放的以下人士：古丽仙·阿巴斯（Gulshan Abbas）医生、艾克拜尔·艾赛提（Ekpar Asat）、鄒幸彤（Chow Hang-tung）、热依拉·达吾提（Rahile Dawut）、丁家喜（Ding Jiaxi）、董郁玉（Dong Yuyu）、高全福牧师（Pastor Gao Quanfu）、高兟（Gao Zhen）、高智晟（Gao Zhisheng）、第十一世班禅喇嘛更登确吉尼玛（Gedhun Choekyi Nyima）、果・喜饶嘉措（Go Sherab Gyatso）、何俊仁（Albert Ho）、黎智英（Jimmy Lai）、李卓人（Lee Cheuk-yan）、敏辛（Min Zin）、伊力哈木·土赫提（Ilham Tohti）、洛桑次仁（Lobsang Tsering）、王炳章（Wang Bingzhang）、王怡牧师（Pastor Wang Yi）、杨茂东（Yang Maodong），以及锡安教会的众领袖；02
宣布拟废止或修订在您任内通过、且有悖于中国所承担国际人权法义务的法律，包括但不限于2020年《中华人民共和国香港特别行政区维护国家安全法》及2026年《中华人民共和国民族团结进步促进法》；03
确认所有身处中国境外、希望前往中国与家人及社群团聚的人士——包括2007年美国国会金质奖章得主、第十四世达赖喇嘛尊者——均将获准入境，并确保在访问中国期间的人身安全；以及04
在抵达美国前公开承诺，贵方代表团全体成员以及相关的在美人员均不会因围绕此次访问展开的抗议及反对行动而实施任何跨国镇压及集体惩罚。若无上述举措，我们认为此次访问只会加深国际社会对贵国政府人权政策态度的疑虑。
作为人权倡议组织，我们致力于维护相关社群的权益，坚守构成我们工作基础的原则及法律规范，并就推动人权进步提出建设性建议。 本着这一精神，我们愿在您此次访美期间与您直接会面，就上述问题交换意见。 联系方式如下：[email protected]。
Signatories:
- Rishat Abbas, Uyghur Academy International
- Rushan Abbas, Campaign for Uyghurs
- Zumretay Arkin, World Uyghur Congress
- Beh Lih Yi, Committee to Protect Journalists
- Aleksandra Bielakowska, Reporters Without Borders
- Simon Billenness, No Business With Genocide
- Annie Boyajian, Iona Advisory
- Mark Clifford, Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation
- Gila Cotler, Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights
- Nadia Daar, Amnesty International USA
- Misran Dolan, Uyghur American Association
- Olivia Enos, Hudson Institute
- Fang Zheng, Humanitarian China
- Jamie Fly, Freedom House
- Bob Fu, ChinaAid
- Tencho Gyatso, International Campaign for Tibet
- Laura Harth, Safeguard Defenders
- Abdulhakim Idris, Center for Uyghur Studies
- Omer Kanat, Uyghur Human Rights Project
- Thomas Kellogg, Georgetown Center for Asian Law
- Megan Khoo, Hong Kong Watch
- Sophie Luo, Alliance for Citizens Rights
- Sophie Richardson, Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders
- Benedict Rogers, Fortify Rights
- Marcelle Roux, France-Tibet Association
- Zubayra Shamseden, Network for Uyghur Rights
- Mervyn Thomas, CSW
- Jenny Wang, Human Rights Foundation
- Tenzin Yangzom, International Tibet Network
- Adrian Zenz, Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation
- Uzra Zeya, Human Rights First
- Zhou Fengsuo, Human Rights in China
This campaign builds on HRF’s broader legal advocacy for prisoners of conscience in China.
Through our Impact Litigation program, we represent several of the featured individuals pro bono and have worked closely with their families and domestic lawyers to submit their cases to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, asking it to declare their detention arbitrary and in violation of international law.