RSF urges China to release blogger detained for reporting on forced land seizures News
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RSF urges China to release blogger detained for reporting on forced land seizures

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Friday called on the Chinese government to immediately release Liu Hanbin, a blogger who has been detained for one month following his publication of information regarding a protest by farmers against forced land seizures.

RSF’s Asia-Pacific bureau director Cédric Alviani stated:
Chinese blogger Liu Hanbin was only serving the public interest by shedding light on abuses linked to land seizures, and should never be detained, let alone denied the right to meet with his lawyer. We call on the international community to build up pressure on the Chinese authorities to secure Liu’s release alongside the 124 other journalists and press freedom defenders detained in the country.

The organization condemned Liu’s detention as part of a broader pattern of repression against journalists and activists in China. The incident marked Liu as the 125th journalist currently detained by the Chinese authorities, raising significant concerns about freedom of expression in the country.

Liu, who writes under the name Wen Yi Fan, was taken into custody after he posted a video on social media platform WeChat reporting on a protest by farmers in a rural area against land confiscations by government officials. His coverage highlighted the grievances of these farmers, who claimed that their land was being seized without adequate compensation or consultation. The protest in Inner Mongolia, which drew attention to the plight of rural communities facing displacement, was met with a swift response from local authorities, leading to Liu’s arrest. The 52-year-old blogger has been charged with “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” a crime punishable by up to five years in prison.

The background of this issue underscores a longstanding struggle for freedom of expression and human rights in China. The Chinese regime has increasingly cracked down on dissenting voices and independent journalism, particularly those who expose government misconduct or advocate for social justice. Critics have expressed concern over the dangers imposed on citizen journalists in the country, asserting that the state employs various tactics to suppress dissent and control information.

The outcome of Liu’s case may serve as a critical indicator of the Chinese government’s willingness to tolerate dissent and allow for greater freedom of expression within its borders.

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