04/14/2026, 09:0404/14/2026, 09:04
After three years behind bars, China has released civil rights activist and lawyer Yu Wensheng from prison. His wife wrote on the online platform X that he had returned to Beijing. The EU had noted the release, a spokesman said. “We fear that Yu Wensheng will continue to be subject to surveillance and restrictions after his release,” the EU said. The EU calls on China to fully respect all rights and freedoms of Yu and his wife Xu Yan, it said.
Yu Wensheng.Image: AP NY
Yu’s case had also attracted the attention of the federal government. In April 2023, he was arrested with his wife Xu Yan in Beijing during a visit by then Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) on the way to the headquarters of the EU delegation, which is not far from the German embassy.
International criticism of judgments
The authorities had accused both of starting fights and provoking trouble – an accusation that is repeatedly made to silence critics. In October 2024, a court in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou convicted both of them for “incitement to undermine state power”. Xu was sentenced to one year and nine months in prison and Yu was sentenced to three years in prison.
In addition to the USA, the EU and Germany criticized the verdict at the time. Among other things, Yu had taken on politically sensitive cases and was critical of the Communist Party. In 2018, while serving another prison sentence, he was awarded the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law to honor his commitment to protecting human rights. (hkl/sda/dpa)