Human Rights Watch has issued a call for the release of Tibetan activist Zhang Yadi, also known as Tara, detained by Chinese authorities. Zhang’s arrest follows her creation of a digital platform advocating for Tibetan rights in Chinese. This action is part of her involvement with Chinese Youth for Tibet, an activist group striving to promote a deeper understanding of Tibetan culture within Chinese-speaking communities and address ethnic conflicts and prejudice. The group formed in response to the “White Paper” protests that opposed China’s “Zero-Covid Policy” in Beijing and elsewhere in 2022.
Chinese authorities have charged Zhang with violating article 103 of China’s criminal code, which pertains to activities perceived as nationalistic threats, such as attempting to split the country. This charge can result in severe penalties, including life imprisonment. Zhang has been in detention since July, and her case highlights concerns over the suppression of ethnic minority rights and freedom of expression in China. More about her case can be found here.
Compounding the situation, Jiang Tianyong, a human rights lawyer assisting Zhang, was also detained in September while en route to provide legal support. This incident mirrors the broader crackdown on activists in China, including the recent arrest of filmmaker Chen Pin Lin, detained for producing a documentary on the COVID-19 lockdown measures. Such actions demonstrate a pattern of using legal mechanisms to stifle dissent and control narratives surrounding ethnic and political issues. More information about the broader pattern can be found here.
Against this backdrop, the international community has increasingly sounded alarms over China’s human rights practices, particularly its treatment of minority groups such as Tibetans and Uyghurs. Human Rights Watch’s recent call follows appeals for commemorating the one-year anniversary of the “White Paper” protests, which highlighted public discontent with stringent COVID policies in October 2022.