2011 crackdown on dissidents in China

[6][7] Since the start of the protests in mid-February 2011, human rights groups have claimed that more than 54 people have been arrested by authorities, some of whom have been charged with crimes.

At least 54 leading activists have been arrested or detained by authorities including:[7] Renee Xia, the international director of Chinese Human Rights Defenders, commented on 26 February 2011: "The numbers point to a bad situation that is only getting worse.

In the matter of a few days, we have seen more cases of prominent lawyers subjected to prolonged disappearances, more criminal charges that may carry lengthy prison sentences for activists, more home raids, and a heavier reliance on extralegal measures.

";[2] In addition, according to Phelim Kine of Human Rights Watch, three people, Lan Ruoyu, Tan Yanhua, and Zhang Haibo, are believed to be still missing by September 2011.

A total of about 17 people from the above list remain in detention, prison, or re-education through labor.