[JURIST] Former head of China’s domestic security apparatus Zhou Yongkang [BBC profile] has been arrested and expelled from the ruling Communist Party after being accused of accepting bribes, exploiting his power to enrich family members and leaking state secrets. Zhou, once a potent rival for President Xi Jinping [BBC profile], is the highest ranking leader to ever face criminal investigation for corruption. In addition to controlling the police and paramilitary, Zhou had a heavy influence in state-owned petroleum sector. Previous investigations revealed assets of over 1 billion yuan. His son has also been detained as part of the investigation.

The detainment of anti-corruption activists has been a recurrent human rights issue in China. In April a court sentenced [JURIST report] activists connected with New Citizens Movement [WSJ backgrounder] to jail for gathering a mob to disturb the public. The same month the Beijing Supreme People’s Court denied [JURIST report] New Citizens Movement founder Xu Zhiyong’s appeal, inciting harsh criticism from rights groups. Xu was formally indicted in December, after Beijing prosecutors received a letter from Chinese police officials urging [JURIST reports] the government to bring charges against Xu in early December. Last August Chinese writer, lawyer and human rights advocate Yang Maodong, commonly known by his pen name Guo Feixiong [HRIC profile], became the second leader, following Xu, of the New Citizens movement to be arrested [JURIST report] on suspicion of disrupting the peace.

[JURIST] Former head of China’s domestic security apparatus Zhou Yongkang [BBC profile] has been arrested and expelled from the ruling Communist Party after being accused of accepting bribes, exploiting his power to enrich family members, and leaking state secrets. Zhou is the highest ranking leader to ever face criminal investigation for corruption. In addition to controlling the police and paramilitary, Zhou had a heavy influence in state-owned petroleum sector. Previous investigations revealed assets over 1 billion yuan. His son has also been detained as part of the investigation.

There have been numerous accusations of government corruption in China, and Zhou was once a potent rival for President Xi Jinping [BBC profile]. The detainment of anti-corruption activists has been a recurrent human rights issue in China. In April a court sentenced activists connected with New Citizens Movement [advocacy website, in Chinese] to jail for gathering a mob to disturb the public. The same month the Beijing Supreme People’s Court denied [JURIST report] New Citizens Movement founder Xu Zhiyong’s appeal, inciting harsh criticism from rights groups. Xu was formally indicted in December, after Beijing prosecutors received a letter from Chinese police officials urging [JURIST reports] the government to bring charges against Xu in early December. Last August Chinese writer, lawyer and human rights advocate Yang Maodong, commonly known by his pen name Guo Feixiong [HRIC profile], became the second leader, following Xu, of the New Citizens movement to be arrested [JURIST report] on suspicion of disrupting the peace.