CNHRA PERSON RECORD · CNHRA-P-351447
Xu Na
Born
Unknown
Occupation
Painter
Role
Religious Figure · Other
Record ID
CNHRA-P-351447
Biography
Xu Na is a Beijing painter and Falun Gong practitioner. Amnesty International’s 2008 urgent action identifies her as an artist and records detention and prosecution concerning religious materials and activities.[1]
Xu served five years from 2001 to 2006 in a case concerning accommodation for Falun Gong practitioners visiting Beijing. Citing her accounts to relatives and friends, Amnesty reported beatings, sleep deprivation, force-feeding and physical restraint during that imprisonment.[1]
Xu and her husband, folk musician Yu Zhou, were detained in Beijing on January 25, 2008 after police found Falun Gong materials during a search. Amnesty records Yu’s death eleven days later and called for an investigation and protection for Xu.[1]
Case Summary
Xu received a three-year sentence in the religious-materials case on November 25, 2008 and stated her intention to appeal. Amnesty issued an urgent action that month describing the case and her previous imprisonment.[1]
On July 19, 2020, Beijing police detained Xu and twelve other Falun Gong practitioners. USCIRF records allegations that they shared photographs of Beijing streets during the pandemic with a publication associated with Falun Gong, as well as police seizures of religious materials.[2]
On January 14, 2022, Dongcheng People’s Court sentenced Xu to eight years and a 20,000-yuan fine for organizing or using a cult to undermine implementation of the law. USCIRF also records the revocation of her original lawyer’s license in December 2021.[2]
Timeline
2001
Beginning of an earlier five-year term
Xu received five years for providing accommodation to Falun Gong practitioners visiting Beijing, serving until 2006. Amnesty later relayed her account of mistreatment during that term.[1]
2008-01-25
Detained with her husband
Police detained Xu and Yu Zhou after finding Falun Gong materials. Amnesty records Yu’s death in custody eleven days later and Xu’s continuing detention.[1]
2008-11-25
Three years in a religious-materials case
The court imposed three years for using a cult to undermine implementation of the law. Amnesty’s urgent action records her immediate intention to appeal after sentencing.[1]
2020-07-19
Detained in pandemic-photograph case
Beijing police detained Xu and twelve other practitioners. USCIRF records allegations concerning pandemic street photographs supplied to a publication associated with Falun Gong.[2]
2022-01-14
Eight-year sentence and fine
Dongcheng People’s Court imposed eight years and a 20,000-yuan fine for organizing or using a cult to undermine implementation of the law. USCIRF records the judgment in her case file.[2]
Related Events
Sources
- [1]
CNHRA-S-056333Amnesty International
Evidence location: PDF p. 1: artist identity, 2001–2006 imprisonment, January 25, 2008 detention, Yu Zhou’s death in custody and November 25 sentence.
- [2]
CNHRA-S-121197USCIRF
Evidence location: July 19, 2020 detention of thirteen, photograph/material allegations, January 14, 2022 eight-year term and fine.