Guo Feixiong: Difference between revisions
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'''Guo Feixiong''' ({{zh|s=郭飞雄}}; born 2 August 1966)<ref>Human Rights in China, "[http://www.ir2008.com/09/about.php About the Individual: Guo Feixiong (a.k.a. Yang Maodong)]," Incorporating Responsibility 2008, September 2008.</ref> is the pen name of '''Yang Maodong''' (杨茂东), a Chinese human rights legal activist from [[Guangdong]] province who is often identified with the [[Weiquan movement]]. Guo is known as a dissident writer and "[[barefoot lawyer]]", who has worked on several controversial issues to defend the [[minority rights|rights of marginalized groups]]. Prior to his 2006 imprisonment, Guo worked as a legal advisor to the Shanghai Shengzhi Law Firm.<ref name=HRIC/> |
'''Guo Feixiong''' ({{zh|s=郭飞雄}}; born 2 August 1966)<ref>Human Rights in China, "[http://www.ir2008.com/09/about.php About the Individual: Guo Feixiong (a.k.a. Yang Maodong)]," Incorporating Responsibility 2008, September 2008.</ref> is the pen name of '''Yang Maodong''' (杨茂东), a Chinese human rights legal activist from [[Guangdong]] province who is often identified with the [[Weiquan movement]]. Guo is known as a dissident writer and "[[barefoot lawyer]]", who has worked on several controversial issues to defend the [[minority rights|rights of marginalized groups]]. Prior to his 2006 imprisonment, Guo worked as a legal advisor to the Shanghai Shengzhi Law Firm.<ref name=HRIC/> |
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==Early life== |
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Guo was born on 1966 in [[Gucheng County, Hubei]]. During the [[Cultural Revolution]], he was sent to the countryside with his parents for nine years, where they experienced the poverty. In July 1988, he graduated from the Department of Philosophy of [[East China Normal University]] in Shanghai, and was assigned to work at [[Jianghan University|Wuhan Medical College for Staff and Workers]], where he served as a philosophy teacher. Guo actively participated in the [[1989 Tiananmen Square Protests]]. In 1991, he went to [[Guangdong]]. where he was engaged in various occupations. From 1993 to 2001, he mainly engaged in private publishing, and then made a living by writing.<ref name="WEI">{{cite news|title=魏京生基金会第三届"魏京生中国民主斗士奖"对郭飞雄、周志荣、林牧的颁奖词|url=http://www.weiquanwang.org/?p=2832|publisher=魏京生基金會|date=2006-12-05|accessdate=2022-01-19|archive-date=2016-06-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601020029/http://www.weiquanwang.org/?p=2832}}</ref> |
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==Legal career== |
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In 2005 and 2006, human rights groups reported that Guo was taken into custody and beaten on multiple occasions for his [[human rights defender|human rights advocacy]], including his work on the [[Taishi, Guangzhou|Taishi village]] standoff. The beating of Guo Feixiong was reportedly one of the catalysts behind a rolling nationwide hunger strike organized by Guo's friend and associate [[Gao Zhisheng]].<ref>'[http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china_guofeixiong-20060915.html China Detains Top Guangdong Rights Lawyer Guo Feixiong],' Radio Free Asia, 15 Sept 2006.</ref> |
In 2005 and 2006, human rights groups reported that Guo was taken into custody and beaten on multiple occasions for his [[human rights defender|human rights advocacy]], including his work on the [[Taishi, Guangzhou|Taishi village]] standoff. The beating of Guo Feixiong was reportedly one of the catalysts behind a rolling nationwide hunger strike organized by Guo's friend and associate [[Gao Zhisheng]].<ref>'[http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china_guofeixiong-20060915.html China Detains Top Guangdong Rights Lawyer Guo Feixiong],' Radio Free Asia, 15 Sept 2006.</ref> |
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Revision as of 18:53, 19 January 2022
Guo Feixiong 郭飞雄 | |
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| Born | 2 August 1966 |
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Guo Feixiong (Chinese: 郭飞雄; born 2 August 1966)[1] is the pen name of Yang Maodong (杨茂东), a Chinese human rights legal activist from Guangdong province who is often identified with the Weiquan movement. Guo is known as a dissident writer and "barefoot lawyer", who has worked on several controversial issues to defend the rights of marginalized groups. Prior to his 2006 imprisonment, Guo worked as a legal advisor to the Shanghai Shengzhi Law Firm.[2]
Early life
Guo was born on 1966 in Gucheng County, Hubei. During the Cultural Revolution, he was sent to the countryside with his parents for nine years, where they experienced the poverty. In July 1988, he graduated from the Department of Philosophy of East China Normal University in Shanghai, and was assigned to work at Wuhan Medical College for Staff and Workers, where he served as a philosophy teacher. Guo actively participated in the 1989 Tiananmen Square Protests. In 1991, he went to Guangdong. where he was engaged in various occupations. From 1993 to 2001, he mainly engaged in private publishing, and then made a living by writing.[3]
Legal career
In 2005 and 2006, human rights groups reported that Guo was taken into custody and beaten on multiple occasions for his human rights advocacy, including his work on the Taishi village standoff. The beating of Guo Feixiong was reportedly one of the catalysts behind a rolling nationwide hunger strike organized by Guo's friend and associate Gao Zhisheng.[4]
Guo was arrested on 30 September 2006 and detained on charges of "illegal business activity" connection with the publication of a book on a political scandal in Liaoning province, Shenyang Political Earthquake. After being held in pre-trial detention for 17 months, he was sentenced to five years of imprisonment at the Meizhou Prison on 14 November 2007 in what was characterized as a "trial marked with serious procedural irregularities."[5] In addition to his sentence, Guo was fined 40,000 yuan. Family members reported that Guo was tortured in custody, deprived of sleep, and shocked with electric batons.[2][6]
Guo was released on 13 September 2011, and stated that he remained committed to the cause of human rights advocacy.[2]
On 8 August 2013, Guo was again arrested on suspicion of "gathering a crowd to disrupt order in a public place". On 10 December 2013, the Tianhe District Branch of the Guangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau recommended that Guo be indicted for the crime of "gathering a crowd to disrupt order in a public place", along with Sun Desheng, another activist.[7]
On 29 October 2013, the United States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations held a hearing on the circumstances surrounding China's detention of Guo Feixiong.[8]
Guo is the recipient of the 2015 Front Line Defenders Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk.[9]
Personal life
Guo was married to Zhang Qing, with whom he had two children; a son and a daughter. Zhang and children fled their Guangzhou home in January 2009 and fled to the United States from Thailand, where they were granted political asylum in November that year.[10][11] From the US, Zhang continued to advocate for the freedom of her husband.[12] In January 2021, Zhang was diagnosed with late-stage colon cancer. As a result, Guo sent an open letter where he requested to be allowed to leave China and reunite with her, which was rejected by the authorities. Zhang died on 11 January 2022, at the age of 55.[13][14]
See also
References
- ^ Human Rights in China, "About the Individual: Guo Feixiong (a.k.a. Yang Maodong)," Incorporating Responsibility 2008, September 2008.
- ^ a b c Human Rights in China, Rights Defender Guo Feixiong Released from Prison; Remains Committed to Rights Work, 13 Sept 2011.
- ^ "魏京生基金会第三届"魏京生中国民主斗士奖"对郭飞雄、周志荣、林牧的颁奖词". 魏京生基金會. 2006-12-05. Archived from the original on 2016-06-01. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
- ^ 'China Detains Top Guangdong Rights Lawyer Guo Feixiong,' Radio Free Asia, 15 Sept 2006.
- ^ Human Rights in China, "Rights Defender Guo Feixiong Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison", 13 Nov 2007.
- ^ "Chinese Rights Lawyer Beaten, Staging Hunger Strike in Prison", Radio Free Asia, 28 Dec 2007
- ^ Guangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau, Tianhe District Branch, "Opinion Recommending Indictment", GZ PSB Tianhe Indict. (2013) No. 03990, 10 December 2013.
- ^ Guo Feixiong and Freedom of Expression in China: Hearing before the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, October 29, 2013
- ^ Thoolen, Hans (12 September 2015). 2015 Front Line Defenders Award to Chinese Guo Feixiong (Yang Maodong) Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
- ^ Zhang, Min (2009-11-19). "Asylum for Activist's Family". Radio Free Asia. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
- ^ "郭飞雄妻儿获批美国政治庇护". BBC News. 2009-11-22. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
- ^ Lau, Mimi (2022-01-22). "Wife of missing Chinese activist dies in US after appeal to Beijing for reunion fails". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
- ^ "妻在美病重 中國維權人士郭飛雄籲李克強允探視". CNA. 2021-11-30. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
- ^ "Wife of activist barred from leaving China dies in US after 15 years apart". Hong Kong Free Press. 2022-01-11. Retrieved January 11, 2022.