China
The Chinese government is the world’s leading jailer of writers and public intellectuals. Writers, journalists, bloggers, and creative artists face censorship, harassment, imprisonment, and enforced disappearance because of their writing or creative expression.
The extensive crackdown on freedom of expression includes the crushing of civil and political rights in Hong Kong and attempts to erase the culture and language of Mongolians, Uyghurs, Tibetans, and other ethnic minorities living in China and its autonomous regions, elevating to potential crimes against humanity in Xinjiang.
What You Need to Know
More than 100 writers are currently behind bars on politicized charges in China. The majority were jailed for online expression that was critical of official policies or expressed pro-democracy viewpoints.
China’s technological and legal infrastructure enables the government to censor, monitor, and control all digital information that flows within, and into and out of the country, especially in autonomous regions.
The Chinese government has expanded its censorship apparatus overseas to try and limit expression about China beyond its borders, engaging in transnational repression against exiles and the diaspora.
News
Individual Cases
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Status: Recorded Harassment
Filmmaker and writer Du Bin was detained for over a month beginning on December 16, 2020 for “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” ahead of the launch of his book on communism in the Soviet Union, set to publish on January…
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Status: Detained
Zunun, a staff member at Uyghur-run Kashgar Publishing House, was detained in a sweep of arrests for his role in the publication of books deemed “problematic” by the Chinese government for their “improper” political content. He had been retired for…
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Status: Imprisoned
According to local police in Atush, Xinjiang, Uyghur author and schoolteacher Setiwaldi Kerim was arrested in 2017 for “promoting separatism” in his books. Uyghur activist Abdulweli Ayup believes Kerim’s detention is likely linked to his work on a Uyghur literature…
Reports & Research
Addressing Beijing’s assault on free expression and defending human rights standards globally is a key priority.
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“Save Our Mother Tongue”
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Writing on the Wall
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Made in Hollywood, Censored by Beijing
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Forbidden Feeds
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Splintered Speech
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Darkened Screen
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Censorship and Conscience
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Threatened Harbor
PEN America Experts
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Erika Nguyen
Erika Nguyen is a senior manager in the PEN/Barbey Freedom…