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

Rio, a friend of jailed Chinese #MeToo activist Sophia Huang Xueqin, expresses concern for Huang's wellbeing after her impending release from prison. Huang, a journalist, has been incarcerated since 2021 alongside labor activist Wang Jianbing for organizing social discussions. In 2024, a Chinese court sentenced Huang to five years in prison for inciting discontent with state power, claiming she had "discussed social issues under the pretext of inciting dissatisfaction."

Despite being set for release on Friday, Rio and rights groups worry about the restrictions Huang will face post-incarceration. Amnesty International has warned that Huang will be stripped of her political rights for four years, as is common for human rights defenders and journalists after their prison sentences end. Huang, who took photos of herself using the #MeToo hashtag, has endured solitary confinement, weight loss, and menstrual issues during her detention.

Rio, speaking from the United States, describes the meetings they held as a "safe space" for open conversations, often with up to 30 participants discussing topics like gay migrant workers and activism. Huang's arrest came just before she was to travel to the United Kingdom for studies, and she was described by Rio as "someone with incredible energy" and a "fighter."