Hubei, Wuhan well-known human rights activist Dong Bin was detained by Wuchang police on May 30 for “provocation” while assisting others in petitioning. Originally scheduled for release on June 9, his family waited in front of the detention center but did not see him. It was later confirmed that Dong Bin had been transferred to criminal detention and is currently held at the detention center in Wuchang District, Wuhan.
On June 9, Dong Bin’s wife, Sun Xiaojia, told the reporter that she went to the detention center in Wuchang District as scheduled to pick him up, only to find out that he had not been released. Sun mentioned, “The police at the detention center said he was released at 7 a.m., but we waited at the gate until after 9 a.m. After calling 110 for help, we were informed that Dong Bin had been transferred to criminal detention.”
She explained that the authorities had detained her husband for two peaceful human rights actions: one in May this year when he went to the Hubei Provincial Finance Bureau to demand the disclosure of information on officials’ gifts, and the other when he assisted wheelchair-bound veteran Liu Zhiping to go to the Wuchang District government to raise concerns.
“Dong Bin was helping an old friend whom he hadn’t seen in over ten years in pushing a wheelchair to the district government gate to meet the district chief. The police arrived and accused him of provocation,” Sun Xiaojia questioned, suggesting that the authorities used this as an excuse to suppress the normal expression of citizens’ demands.
According to family members, on the afternoon of May 29, 2025, Dong Bin ran into his old friend Liu Zhiping, who is physically disabled and uses a wheelchair, on the street. Liu expressed his intention to go to the Wuchang District government to voice his concerns, and Dong Bin voluntarily helped push the wheelchair to the government gate. Shortly after, several police officers arrived, took Dong Bin to the Ji Yuqiao Police Station in Wuchang District for questioning, and he did not return home all night. The next day after 9 a.m., the police notified the family that Dong Bin had been administratively detained for ten days.
Ms. Liu from Wuhan mentioned that there were many onlookers gathered in front of the government building that day, coming from various districts in Wuhan. Later on, these people were called by the police for statements, but Dong Bin was the only one detained and eventually transferred to criminal detention. External observers questioned whether the authorities might be using the guise of maintaining stability to retaliate against long-time human rights activists.
Sun Xiaojia stated that Dong Bin was administratively detained for “provocation” on May 30 and sent to the detention center, but it was unexpected that he was converted to criminal detention on June 9. That night, she received the notice of criminal detention delivered by the police station. She mentioned that they would hire a lawyer to inquire about Dong Bin’s situation at the detention center.
Dong Bin, 68 years old, originally resided on Xinhao Street in Wuchang District, Wuhan. Ten years ago, his ancestral house was forcibly demolished by the Binjiang Business Demolition Company commissioned by the Wuchang District government without any negotiation or compensation. Since then, Dong Bin and his family have been continuously petitioning through legal channels, but they have faced ongoing repression and retaliation.
The most severe incident occurred in August 2024. Dong Bin and his wife went to Beijing for petitioning, but as soon as they exited the West Station, they were surrounded and forcibly taken away by several personnel from the Wuhan Liaison Office in Beijing. During the journey to a remote location in the southern suburbs of Beijing, Dong Bin was subjected to multiple violent beatings, resulting in fractures of the spine, ribs, and kidney injuries. This group even switched vehicles with covered license plates during the journey, bypassing surveillance and service areas, raising suspicions of illegal detention. In the end, Dong Bin’s attempt to escape failed, and he was forcefully returned to Wuhan.
The incident shocked public opinion, but the Wuhan Public Security Bureau has not initiated an investigation into the perpetrators until now, nor has there been any compensation or apology to the victims.
According to Dong Bin’s provided medical records and imaging data, over the past ten years, he has been violently assaulted by unidentified individuals or local government employees multiple times, with 19 out of 24 ribs in his body fractured, along with records of fractures in the coccyx and sternum. Some of the attacks even occurred in official places such as court filing halls, petition windows, or police stations.
Dong Bin’s family members indicated that this time he was only assisting others in expressing their grievances, which does not constitute a crime, let alone be subject to criminal prosecution. Sun Xiaojia said, “This is a blatant retaliatory strike, the government is targeting good people to their demise.”
Regarding the human rights case, citizen organizations who are concerned about it stated that the authorities’ criminal detention of Dong Bin on charges of “provocation” is a typical abuse of a “pocket crime.” This charge has been frequently used in recent years to suppress petitioners, independent journalists, human rights lawyers, and activists, often categorizing their actions as “disrupting public order” despite the lack of concrete illegal behavior, seriously infringing on basic citizen rights.
Currently, Dong Bin has been transferred to the Wuchang District detention center, and lawyers and family members have not received permission for a visit. The public urges the authorities to disclose the detention reasons in accordance with the law, safeguard the legal rights of the detained individuals, and promptly release Dong Bin.