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.

Friday, December 20, 2019

Xinjiang (新疆)

欧洲议会呼吁制裁中国官员 关注维吾尔人权 (European Parliament urges sanctions against Chinese officials and attention on human rights for Uyghurs)
Deutsche Welle, December 19, 2019

专访:中国的新疆政策已超越犯罪的定义 (Scholar: China's Xinjiang policy is beyond criminal)
Deutsche Welle, December 19, 2019

俄罗斯穆斯林领袖开始批评中国的新疆政策 (Muslim leader in Russia voices criticism on China's Xinjiang policy)
Voice of America, December 19, 2019

Access to Justice (司法公正)

中國駐瑞典大使:桂民海活得很好 所涉案件絕非人權案 (Gui Minhai is living well and his case has nothing to do with human rights, says Chinese ambassador in Sweden)
Radio Television Hong Kong, December 20, 2019

微信留言六个字开玩笑判囚九个月 (Man jailed for 9 months for ISIS joke on WeChat)
Radio Free Asia, December 19, 2019

Chinese activist who helps sanitation workers detained, friends say
Reuters, December 19, 2019

Related:
Labor NGO Founder, Volunteer, Intern Detained in China's Guangdong
Radio Free Asia, December 19, 2019

Chinese student complains police failed to investigate knife attack where ‘very powerful people’ were involved
South China Morning Post, December 19, 2019

Access to Information (信息公开)

世界律师大会真相曝光 代表促独立执法的发言被取消 (Speech by representative of International Association of Lawyers cancelled at Global Lawyers Forum)
Radio Free Asia, December 19, 2019

Government Accountability (政府问责)

U.S. should not finalize China trade deal unless detained Canadians are released: Trudeau
Reuters, December 19, 2019

Can China sustain its human rights vision with Xinjiang and Hong Kong in spotlight?
South China Morning Post, December 20, 2019

China cools Sweden business ties after minister awards prize to Gui Minhai
The Guardian, December 20, 2019

China will not let foreign forces to interfere in Hong Kong, Macau: Xi
Reuters, December 20, 2019

美众院外委会通过西藏法案 藏人谢美国彰显公义 (Dalai Lama expresses thanks as U.S. House of Representatives passes act on Tibet)
Radio Free Asia, December 19, 2019

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

China targets 41 apps in privacy clamp
The Standard, December 20, 2019

Zooming out on Chinese surveillance technology
China Digital Times, December 18, 2019

Hong Kong (香港)

警拘捕星火同盟四人涉洗黑錢 凍結七千萬 (Police arrest Spark Alliance staff on money laundering charges, to freeze donations)
Inmediahk.net, December 19, 2019

Related:
Hong Kong police arrest 4 for ‘money laundering’ and freeze HK$70m used to support pro-democracy protesters
Hong Kong Free Press, December 19, 2019

HSBC distances itself from police crackdown on protest fundraiser accused of money laundering
South China Morning Post, December 20, 2019

上月關閉「星火」戶口 滙豐:非草率決定,與香港近況無關 (HSBC says closure of Spark Alliance's bank account in November was "unrelated to current HK situation")
Stand News, December 20, 2019

教育局命80被捕教師教學助理即時停職 楊潤雄:用更嚴厲行動「糾正錯誤」(80 teachers and teaching assistants arrested in relation to protests, Education Bureau says tougher action needed to "correct mistakes")
Ming Pao, December 20, 2019

Related:
At least five Hong Kong teachers accused of protest-related misconduct were not given a chance to defend themselves before Education Bureau, union says
South China Morning Post, December 19, 2019

許智峯眾籌330萬私人檢控警暴 要求先披露內地製催淚彈成份 (Legislator Ted Hui crowdfunds to raise private prosecutions against police, including for protester shot with life-rounds and to press disclosure of tear gas ingredients)
Inmediahk.net, December 19, 2019

【龍門任警擺】6青年九龍城涉揮棍練Parkour被捕 星火律師跟進 (Six arrested for practising parkour while carrying sticks)
Apple Daily, December 19, 2019

Social workers take to Hong Kong streets to urge international community to join fight against city’s ‘humanitarian crisis’
South China Morning Post, December 19, 2019

Commentary (评论)

舉報、燒書、改章程⋯⋯「自由而無用」的靈魂,在中國遭遇了什麼? (The fate of "free but useless" souls in China)
Initium, December 19, 2019

Sexual violence against Hong Kong protesters – what’s going on?
Amnesty International, December 19, 2019

Mesut Özil should be able to say what he likes about subjects he cares about
The Guardian, December 19, 2019

Nationalism Ruined My Chinese Friendships
SupChina, December 19, 2019