Jailed in China for organizing gatherings to discuss social issues
Please send a message of solidarity to Xu Zhiyong and supporters of the "Same-city Eat-Drink gatherings"
Legal scholar and human rights activist Xu Zhiyong (left) was sentenced to four years in jail.
Dozens of people linked to the Chinese New Citizens Movement have been criminally detained or subjected to enforced disappearance over the past year for organizing “Same-city Eat-drink gatherings”.
These activists have been prosecuted simply for exercising their rights to assembly and free speech.
The New Citizens Movement (NCM) uses social media platforms to promote gatherings where participants meet over dinner on the last Saturday of each month to discuss social issues. The dinner table "selfies" have spread widely across social media platforms in China such as Sina, Weibo or Twitter.Forming an organization is prohibited in China, but there is no reason to prohibit citizens living in the same city from going to a restaurant to eat and drink together.
The New Citizens Movement (NCM) uses social media platforms to promote gatherings where participants meet over dinner on the last Saturday of each month to discuss social issues. The dinner table "selfies" have spread widely across social media platforms in China such as Sina, Weibo or Twitter.Forming an organization is prohibited in China, but there is no reason to prohibit citizens living in the same city from going to a restaurant to eat and drink together.
It is expected that the Chinese authorities will hold a series of trials of members of the NCM throughout the first half of 2014.
Activists facing trials and NCM members have gone silent to avoid arrest.Please send a solidarity message to let them know the world hasn't forgotten them.
More about Xu Zhiyong and the New Citizens' Movement
In May 2012, Chinese legal scholar Xu Zhiyong wrote an article “China Needs a New Citizens’ Movement” calling for the rule of law and greater freedoms and democracy. He suggested activities for “new citizens” interested in pushing forward the “New Citizens’ Movement” The activities include:
- rejecting corruption by doing good for society
- participating in civic life by holding meetings to discuss the political situation
- helping the weak and
- uniting to share and coordinate work
This article is credited with spurring a loose network of activists who aim to promote government transparency and expose corruption.
As a result of his activities Xu Zhiyong was arrested and sentenced on January 22, 2014 to four years in prison for “gathering a crowd to disturb order in a public place.”
More you can do
After sending your message of solidarity to Xu Zhiyong and members of the New Citizens' Movement, please consider these follow-up actions:- Take a "selfie", a picture of you in a gathering of friends and send it to us at members@amnesty.ca. Amnesty International plans to create a webpage with "selfie" images from supporters around the world.
- Organize an AmnesTEA event to raise money for Amnesty International and promote this Same-City Eat-Drink action
- Share your support on Twitter, tweeting: I stand in solidarity with the Same City Eat-Drink Gatherings #NEWCITIZENSMOVEMENT
