CNHRA EVENT RECORD · CNHRA-E-203500
Gao Zhisheng: Suspended Sentence, Revocation and Sentence Completion
Date
2006-12-22
Location
Beijing and Xinjiang, China
Event Type
Trial · Sentencing · Release
Human Rights Issues
Freedom of Expression · Right to a Fair Trial
Record ID
CNHRA-E-203500
Summary
Description
Gao faced restrictions on legal practice following advocacy for people with low incomes and religious groups. China’s reply records a sentence on December 22, 2006, of three years suspended for five years and one year’s deprivation of political rights for inciting subversion.[4][1]
After he was taken away in February 2009, relatives could not establish his whereabouts. Opinion No. 26/2010 found category II and III arbitrary detention. The suspended sentence was revoked in December 2011, followed by imprisonment and release in August 2014.[4][1][3]
Developments
Three-year sentence suspended for five years
China’s 2025 reply records a Beijing court sentence for inciting subversion: three years suspended for five years, with one year’s deprivation of political rights.[1]
Earlier detention and loss of contact, according to the opinion
Paragraphs 6 and 18–19 record Gao being taken from Shaanxi, his family unable to establish his whereabouts, and lack of effective access to counsel.[4]
Opinion No. 26/2010 adopted
The Working Group finds category II and III arbitrary detention concerning detention from 2009 and requests immediate release and reparation.[4]
Suspension revoked
The authorities revoked the suspended sentence and enforced the original three-year prison term. China later told the UN that Gao had violated supervision conditions.[1]
Released on sentence completion
Gao completed his sentence and left prison, as recorded in the UN’s public 2017 communication record.[3]
Related People
Organizations
No organizations have been added.
Documents
Sources
- [1]
CNHRA-S-188382Government of China / United Nations
Evidence location: PDF cover dated 29 April 2025; sections I.A, I.B, I.D and III.
- [2]
CNHRA-S-721486UN Special Procedures
Evidence location: PDF pp. 1–5; sections on Ding Jiaxi, Gao Zhisheng, Huang Qi and Ilham Tohti; questions to the government.
- [3]
CNHRA-S-497543UN Special Procedures
Evidence location: CHN 8/2017 entry: reported disappearance, the August 2014 release date and questions concerning Gao’s whereabouts.
- [4]
CNHRA-S-596635United Nations
Evidence location: A/HRC/WGAD/2010/26, paragraphs 6 and 17–20; adopted November 19, 2010. Paragraph 10 differs from the later government reply on the 2006 sentence and is not used for that sentence.