Friends and rights groups worry for Chinese #MeToo activist’s life after jail

Chinese activist Sophia Huang Xueqin, a vocal advocate for women's rights, is facing an uncertain future after serving a five-year prison sentence. Huang, who co-organized weekly discussions on social issues, was detained in 2021 alongside labor activist Wang Jianbing. A Chinese court sentenced her to prison, alleging that she "incited participants' dissatisfaction with Chinese state power under the pretext of discussing social issues."

Huang is due to be released on Friday, but Rio, a friend of Huang's, and rights groups are concerned that she will face ongoing restrictions even after her release. Amnesty International warned that Huang will be stripped of her political rights for four years post-sentencing, a common punishment for human rights defenders and journalists in China.

This "supplemental sentence" limits her ability to speak, publish, and organize long after her prison term ends. Rio, who spoke to AFP from the United States, emphasized that Huang, a journalist, will likely face heavy online scrutiny, making it difficult for her to maintain her online presence. The group discussions that Huang and her friends held, often with up to 30 participants, provided a safe space for open conversations on various topics, including women's rights and activism.

Huang's arrest, just before she was set to travel to the United Kingdom for studies, surprised and shocked her supporters. While she has become a symbol of women's rights in China, Rio hopes that Huang will prioritize her physical and mental well-being after her release.