Human Rights Watch has issued a stark demand to the Chinese government: release US permanent resident Gao Zhen and drop all charges against him. Gao, who was arrested in August 2024 while visiting family in Sanhe City, faces charges of slandering China’s heroes and martyrs through his art that critiqued the Cultural Revolution.

Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, expressed deep concern over the implications of Gao’s prosecution, stating, "The Chinese authorities’ prosecution of Gao Zhen both violates his basic rights and indicates a step back toward China’s painful past. Critique about Mao’s brutal legacy, once tolerated, now seems to be off-limits as President Xi Jinping tightens his ideological control."

The charges against Gao stem from a law introduced in 2021, designed to protect the reputation of China’s historical figures. However, the artwork that led to his arrest predates this law, having been created before 2009. This has raised questions about the retrospective application of law and due process in his case.

Gao’s health has reportedly deteriorated while in detention; he suffers from arteriosclerosis, adding urgency to calls for his release. The case also highlights broader issues of freedom of expression in China, as outlined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees the right to freedom of opinion and expression. Despite being a signatory, China has not ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which upholds similar freedoms.

This case arrives amid broader criticisms of China’s human rights record. Recently, Human Rights Watch warned that China's proposed Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress could undermine minority protections. Additionally, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders has urged the protection of imprisoned activists in China, while Amnesty International reported that ambiguous laws are being used to suppress civilian freedoms.

As the international community watches, the pressure on China increases to uphold the principles of free expression and human rights, particularly as they pertain to artists like Gao Zhen, whose work challenges and critiques historical narratives.