Yu Wensheng

[5] On 18 January 2018, Yu published an open letter calling for reforms such as the holding of fair elections, advocating for an oversight system of the Chinese Communist Party, etc.

The next day, Yu was arrested by over ten people, including a Swat team, while walking his 13 year-old son to school on suspicion of "picking quarrels and provoking troubles".

In April 2019, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued a statement calling for Yu's release.

According to Hong Kong news media RTHK, The People's High Court ruled on the grounds that Yu had "spread rumors and attempted to subvert state power by trying to overthrow the country's socialist regime".

[14] On April 13, 2023, while en route to attending a meeting with the EU delegation to China in Beijing, Yu and his wife Xu were taken into police custody.

[21] On 11 February 2021, Yu won the Martin Ennals Award for his work to defend human rights in China despite many obstacles.

[22][23] Philippe Currat, president of the board of the Martin Ennals Foundation that administers the award, said: "On the eve of the Chinese New Year, we hope this recognition of Yu Wensheng's work will shine a light on his achievements and help him regain the freedom he has lost”.

[23] Phil Lynch, executive director of the International Service for Human Rights, said the award demonstrated that "unjustly imprisoning Yu [...] will not go ignored".