HRF condemns the continued detention of Chinese dissident artist Gao Zhen and the exit ban imposed on his wife, Zhao Yaliang, which has prevented their family, including their 7-year-old son, from returning home to the United States.

The 70-year-old artist, who is a US permanent resident, is accused of “slandering heroes and martyrs” for his artworks critical of Mao-era political violence. He has endured prolonged solitary confinement and his health has deteriorated in detention.

Zhao Yaliang, also a US permanent resident, and their son, a US citizen, have been denied regular communication with Gao. As @yangjianli001 writes in his latest piece for the @Diplomat_APAC, the human consequence of family separation is devastating. When an American child is prevented from returning home because of a parent’s political expression, it normalizes collective punishment against family members.

Last month, HRF submitted a petition on Gao Zhen’s behalf to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, urging the group to find his detention arbitrary and call for his immediate release. Learn more.