Human Rights Foundation

A Hong Kong court has convicted a third individual under Article 23, the new security law. Au Kin-wai, 58, was sentenced to 14 months for "sedition" over social media posts calling for the dissolution of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the removal of President Xi Jinping and Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee. Au's posts, which reached only about 20 followers, included a Cultural Revolution-era slogan: "Revolution is no crime; to rebel is justified." The court emphasized deterrence in its ruling, stating that the sentence should "prevent others from copying the crime." Au's case follows the recent convictions of Chung Man-kit and Chu Kai-pong, who were both sentenced for "sedition" related to their use of the 2019 protest slogan, "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times." HRF expresses grave concern over the relentless suppression of free speech in Hong Kong under draconian security laws and the city's failure to safeguard freedom of expression.

Gopur Abdurreshit, a Uyghur correctional officer, was sentenced to seven years in prison for revealing information about the condition of Ilham Tohti, a prominent Uyghur economist and scholar serving a life sentence on separatism charges. Abdurreshit talked of Tohti's solitary confinement, saying he was given limited exposure to sunlight and that his health was worsening. The nonprofit Uyghur Hjelp said Abdurreshit was arrested in February for "spreading sensitive and negative information" and that officials have also been reportedly monitoring Abdurreshit's family members. HRF condemns the CCP’s efforts to cover up their unfair treatment of prisoners of conscience and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Gopur Abdurreshit. https://buff.ly/3BcL9O6

On Wednesday, senior UN officials expressed concern over escalating violence in the Sudanese town of El-Fasher, stating that thousands of lives are at risk amid the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Sudan's ongoing conflict has resulted in famine, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. Recent estimates place casualties at as high as 150,000 people. HRF expresses concern for the safety and well-being of Sudanese civilians and calls for an immediate end to the conflict.

On Wednesday, the United States imposed sanctions on 12 Iranian officials for violent crackdown on protesters, torture of prisoners, transnational repression, and other human rights abuses. "In the two years since Mahsa Amini’s senseless killing in the custody of Iran’s so-called Morality Police, the Iranian regime has continued to systematically violate the human rights of the Iranian people," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. HRF applauds the imposed sanctions, commemorates Mahsa Amini's legacy, and strongly condemns the Iranian regime's continuing repression and violent crackdown on any dissent. HRF stands with the people of Iran in their pursuit of democratic reform.

Chinese officials tried to sway Canadian MPs to vote against a 2021 motion condemning the Uyghur genocide, according to an intelligence summary by Canadian security agencies. While the motion was ultimately passed unanimously, the CCP retaliated against some MPs with economic sanctions. MP Michael Chong also testified about being offered “political support and assistance with elections” by Haiyan Zhang, a former senior analyst who was fired on suspicions of spying for China. HRF strongly condemns the CCP’s attempt to profile and influence foreign MPs, urging international governments to take decisive action to counter China’s transnational repression.

On Monday, a Hong Kong man was convicted and sentenced to one year and two months in prison under the national security law, also known as Article 23, for wearing a T-shirt with a protest slogan. Chu Kai-pong was arrested in June for wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the 2019 protest slogan “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times,” which has been deemed to have secessionist connotations. He is the first person to be convicted under the new national security law. Rights groups heavily criticized the law for its vague and broadly defined terms, which they argue could be used to suppress dissent and crack down on freedom of expression. HRF condemns the Hong Kong government for using vaguely written laws backed by Beijing to escalate a climate of fear and calls officials to drop all charges and immediately release Chu Kai-pong.

On Saturday, Algeria's constitutional court recalculated the votes between President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and opposition leaders Abdelaali Hassani Cherif and Youcef Aouchiche. The new results confirmed errors in calculating Tebboune's share of votes, indicating that his opponents had won "hundreds of thousands more votes than previously reported.” According to the recalculated results, Tebboune received 84.3%, Cherif 9.6%, and Aouchiche 6.1% of the votes. The court decision followed concerns from opposition parties, and later Tebboune, over a discrepancy in voter turnout, indicated by Algeria’s National Independent Election Authority (ANIE). HRF condemns any hindrances to a fair and transparent electoral process and stands with the Algerian people's right to fair and free elections. https://buff.ly/47zM5rU

On Sept. 10, the Guangdong High People's Court dismissed the appeal of Chinese journalist and #MeToo activist Sophia Huang Xueqin, upholding her five-year prison sentence. The decision was made in a secret hearing without notifying her legal team. uang is known for reporting on China's #MeToo movement. In June, after nearly 1,000 days in detention, she was sentenced by a Chinese court to five years in prison on charges of "incitement to subvert state power." Her lawyer, Xu Kai, said the presiding judge misled him by failing to inform him that the appeal had already been rejected when they discussed the appeal process. HRF condemns the CCP's violations of due process and its continued efforts to silence independent journalists. HRF calls on the CCP to drop all charges against Sophia Huang Xueqin and for her immediate release. https://buff.ly/3zrfhom

In the UK, Tony Blair has become one of the most prominent figures in the modern lobbying industry, laundering the reputations of tyrants and showcasing its profitability. Read HRF Combating Kleptocracy Program Director Casey Michel's latest op-ed for The Spectator:

Last week, a Tunisian appeals court gave dissident and presidential critic Sonia Dahmani an eight-month prison sentence. None of her legal team was present. Dahmani was arrested on May 11 after officials stormed Tunisia's bar association following remarks she made on television challenging the regime's crackdown on Sub-Saharan African migrants. She was initially sentenced to a year on July 6 under Decree 54, which criminalizes "spreading false news." This decree is frequently employed by the regime to crack down on dissent. While detained, according to her legal team, Dahmani was "subjected to a disgraceful body search" and forced to wear a "long white veil" — a punishment typically enforced by the regime toward women prosecuted for sexual offenses. HRF condemns the regime's abuse of decree and expresses concern for Dahmani’s safety and freedom. HRF stands with Tunisian lawyers and their right to a fair trial.