The HRIC Daily Brief is a daily selection of news stories and commentary related to human rights in China, drawn from Chinese- and English-language news and online media sources that we monitor daily. In addition to headlines and source links, HRIC also provides English translation of Chinese headlines.

Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Xinjiang (新疆)

Doubt greets China’s claim that Muslims have been released from camps
The New York Times, July 30, 2019

Turkey to send observation team to China’s Xinjiang for Uighur Turks
Reuters, July 30, 2019

Chinese corruption watchdog targets Uygur supporter of crackdown on “religious extremism”
South China Morning Post, July 30, 2019

China-born opponent of Xinjiang crackdown Serikjan Bilash goes on trial in Kazakhstan
Agence France-Presse, July 30, 2019

Uyghur detainee in BBC video report on Xinjiang camps identified as cultural official
Radio Free Asia, July 29, 2019

Access to Justice (司法公正)

中國 22 歲女生「豬頭人身」畫同胞 被指「辱華」被捕 (22-year-old woman arrested for drawing comic “insulting China”)
Stand News, July 31, 2019

Related:
Chinese cartoonist, collaborator arrested for unpatriotic comics
Sixth Tone, July 30, 2019

Police from China’s Hunan detain three NGO workers for subversion
Radio Free Asia, July 30, 2019

Tibetan jailed in Qinghai for listening to foreign news broadcasts is freed early for “good behavior”
Radio Free Asia, July 29, 2019

Tibetans beaten, detained in Kardze over Dalai Lama photos
Radio Free Asia, July 29, 2019

Access to Information (信息公开)

Sign of the times: China’s capital Beijing orders Arabic, Muslim symbols taken down
Reuters, July 31, 2019

China’s propaganda machine uses foreign voices to support its stance on Hong Kong protests
South China Morning Post, July 30, 2019

Related:
China appreciates DPRK’s voice of justice on Hong Kong
Xinhua, July 31, 2019

“A cop said I was famous”: China accuses foreigners in Hong Kong of being “agents”
The Guardian, July 31, 2019

Mike Pompeo rebukes China’s “ludicrous” claim US is behind Hong Kong protests
South China Morning Post, July 31, 2019

Cyberspace watchdog closes 3,000 websites over illegal services
Global Times, July 30, 2019

曾經監督政府的報紙,現在幫政府做微信號運營 (Former govt watchdog newspaper now assists govt in managing WeChat account)
The Initium, July 30, 2019

AI for stability in the New Era
China Media Project, July 27, 2019

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Hong Kong dispute over China's extradition bill gets physical on University of Auckland campus
New Zealand Herald, July 30, 2019

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China bans citizens from travel to Taiwan as individual tourists
Bloomberg News, July 31, 2019

White House eyeing Chinese forces gathered on Hong Kong border
Bloomberg, July 30, 2019

Related:
Former US envoy Kurt Tong says Beijing should “dial back” its Hong Kong approach amid unrest
South China Morning Post, July 31, 2019

Australia says diplomats must respect free speech after Hong Kong protest at university
Agence France-Presse, July 31, 2019

Related:
Chinese nationalists bring threat of violence to Australia universities
The New York Times, July 30, 2019

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

North Koreans turn to WeChat for videos and cross-border communication
Daily NK, July 30, 2019

Hong Kong (香港)

職工盟稱暫有26個工會響應下周一罷工行動 (26 workers’ unions plan to join general strike on Monday August 5th)
Radio Television Hong Kong, July 31, 2019

Related:
香港抗议:“不合作运动”在争议中进行 (Wave of disobedience begins amidst controversy)
BBC News, July 30, 2019

【怒不可遏】律政司刑事檢控科律師公開信 促政府明確撤回條例 明示內部有政治壓力 (Department of Justice criminal prosecutors issue public letter condemning collusion between law enforcement and criminals, reveals both “external and internal” political pressure)
Stand News, July 30, 2019

Hong Kong unrest: Hundreds gather outside court as protesters charged with rioting
The Guardian, July 31, 2019

市民葵涌警署聲援被捕人士 警舉槍、亂舞警棍兼狂推記者 (Over 200 citizens rally outside Kwai Chung police station to support arrested protesters leaving on bail; police raise guns, deploy pepper spray, attack journalists)
Inmediahk.net, July 31, 2019

Related:
Hong Kong protests: Police officer points gun at protesters
BBC News, July 30, 2019

【睇片】葵涌警針對記者 警盾擊頭、舉槍指嚇、揮棍追打 記協及攝影記協:研究控告警務處 (Officers filmed attacking journalists at Kwai Chung; journalist associations consider pressing charges against police force )
Stand News, July 31, 2019

Hong Kong protesters injured in drive-by fireworks attack from private vehicle after clashes outside police stations
South China Morning Post, July 30, 2019

Related:
【逃犯條例】數百人包圍天水圍警署 有人向群眾射煙花7人傷 (After police arrest young people over Lennon Wall conflict, hundreds surround Tin Shui Wai police station; unknown attacker launches fireworks at crowd, injuring 7)
Ming Pao, July 31, 2019

Hong Kong police “under investigation” by corruption watchdog over failure to protect public during Yuen Long attacks
South China Morning Post, July 30, 2019

Pro-China forum's plan to troll Hong Kong protesters foiled after doxxing retaliation
Global Voices, July 31, 2019

Commentary, 评论

My brush with surveillance in Xinjiang
Financial Times, July 31, 2019

香港——新冷战的导火索
Hong Kong is a flashpoint in the new cold war
Financial Times, July 30, 2019

如果不想香港成為警察社會 (How to stop Hong Kong from becoming a police state)
Inmediahk.net, July 31, 2019

Exclusive: “I am a Hongkonger”: Artist Ai Weiwei on why he supports the city’s “brave, clever, beautiful” protest movement
Hong Kong Free Press, July 30, 2019

China is looking for a quick economic fix in Hong Kong. It’s missing the point
The Guardian, July 30, 2019

Chinese authorities wrongfully imprisoned Huang Qi and should release him
Chinese Human Rights Defenders, July 30, 2019

Twitter the new battleground as Chinese officials sign up
South China Morning Post, July 30, 2019