US Calls for China to Free Missing Lawyer

Gao Zhisheng, a prominent Chinese human rights lawyer, has been missing since August 2017, prompting calls from U.S. officials and human rights advocates for his immediate release. Gao, who has faced imprisonment, house arrest, and torture for defending the rights of religious minorities in China, notably house church Christians and Falun Gong practitioners, has not been seen for seven years. Vicky Hartzler, a commissioner with the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), emphasized Gao's bravery in advocating for those persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Asif Mahmood, another USCIRF commissioner, urged the U.S. government to impose sanctions on Chinese officials involved in Gao's abuse and the broader persecution of rights lawyers. His appeal followed a rally in San Francisco, where nearly 100 activists, including Gao's wife, Geng He, demanded transparency regarding Gao's fate. Geng criticized the CCP for unjustly forcing her husband into disappearance, highlighting the lack of justification for such actions against a citizen and human rights lawyer. Gao's activism began in 2004 when he published open letters addressing political and social issues, including the crackdown on Falun Gong practitioners. Despite the risks, he asserted his right to express concern for those targeted by the regime. In 2006, he was convicted of "subversion" and sentenced to three years in prison, during which he endured torture. His current status remains unknown, raising urgent questions about his well-being and the CCP's treatment of dissenters.