Rights group: China sentences artist to 3 years’ jail for ‘insulting heroes’

Beijing, August 25 — A renowned Chinese artist, Gao Zhen, has been handed a three-year prison sentence for "insulting heroes," according to a rights organization. Gao and his brother Gao Qiang rose to prominence in the early 2000s for their politically sensitive artworks, including a sculpture depicting Mao Zedong kneeling and another featuring Mao aiming rifles at Jesus.

Gao Zhen, who relocated to the United States in 2022, was apprehended at his studio near Beijing while visiting China in August 2024. The charges against him stem from allegations of "insulting heroes and martyrs," as per the US-based Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD). CHRD informed AFP that Gao was convicted in June of last year and sentenced to the maximum penalty for the offense at Sanhe City Court in Hebei province.

Chinese authorities seem to have applied a 2021 law retroactively to Gao's works created between 2005 and 2009. The United Nations' high commissioner for human rights has called for Gao's "immediate and unconditional release," citing concerns over the retroactive use of criminal law, the punishment of artistic expression, and the repercussions for his family.

Gao's family, including his wife and US citizen son, have been barred from leaving China since 2024, which rights groups deem a human rights violation. CHRD's Shane Yi expressed concern that giving Gao the maximum sentence demonstrates Chinese authorities' resolve to deter independent artistic expression. Sarah Brooks, China director for Amnesty International, stated that no artist should face criminal punishment for challenging official narratives or fostering critical reflection on history.

Gao is slated to finish his sentence next August, but he has opted to appeal both his conviction and prison term. AFP has attempted to contact multiple sources, including the court and the US State Department, but all calls have gone unanswered.