65 Chinese human rights activists arrested since March 2013 – Chinese leaders are trying to silence human rights defenders

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) accuses the Chinese government of trying to silence human rights activists in order to ensure its retention of power. "At least 65 human rights activists were arrested or abducted by the Chinese security forces since March 2013," reported the STP's Asia-consultant, Ulrich Delius, in Göttingen on Wednesday. "China's new leadership is not working towards a democratization of the country, but has declared war on human rights and civil rights activists – clearly shown by today's start of the unfair trial against the anti-corruption activist Xu Zhiyong and last week's arrest of the Uyghur blogger Ilham Tohti."

Many of the detainees are still being held in custody by the security forces. Only six of them were released or placed on bail until a still to be specified date of trial. However, all of them are under house arrest and are being monitored permanently. There will be court proceedings against at least 14 of the detained human rights activist. Most of them are accused of forming a crowd and thus having disturbed public order. Nine of the detained or disappeared activists are accused of anti-state activities and of endangering state security.

"All human rights activists in China feel threatened and unsafe, no matter whether they are detained for several years or if they were released from one of the prisons or labor camps after a few weeks under vague conditions," said Delius. "President Xi Jinping has started a major campaign to intimidate human rights activists – with disastrous consequences for the freedom of the press, the freedom of expression and the freedom of assembly in the People's Republic."

According to the STP, today's start of the trial against the lawyer and anti-corruption activist Xu Zhiyong is a sham, because it doesn't meet the international or the Chinese standards for a fair trial. Thus, his lawyer was kept from interrogating five witnesses in court.

"We are also deeply concerned about the renewed arrest of the Uyghur Blogger Ilham Tohti," said Delius. "His arrest is a serious setback for reconciliations in China." The economist – who has been advocating for an understanding between the Uyghur people and the Han Chinese by means of his website "Uyghur online" for years – was arrested on January 15.