Beijing, February 9: United Nations human rights experts have sharply criticized the Chinese government for repeatedly denying medical treatment to human rights activist Yang Li. They have urged Chinese authorities to cease harassment and intimidation against Yang Li and her family, and to grant her immediate access to medical care.
In their statement, UN experts noted, “The arrest of Yang Li and the charges against her indicate that officials want to prevent her from peacefully seeking justice for her legitimate grievances. This harassment is compounded by the denial of medical treatment.” This information was reported by Jurist News.
Yang Li is a human rights activist from the Jintan region of China, known for her long-standing work on housing and land rights issues. She has openly addressed cases of illegal land acquisition, forced evictions, and demolitions. Additionally, she has highlighted the displacement of local residents and the lack of adequate compensation for affected families.
According to reports, Yang Li was detained by police on January 18 while traveling to Beijing for medical treatment. Upon leaving her home, she and her father were forcibly taken to the Jintan Law Enforcement Case Management Center by plainclothes officers. This arrest occurred just five days after her previous detention, during which she was held from January 11 to January 13.
It has been reported that since her detention in 2025, Yang Li has not received any medical treatment. In August 2024, she was diagnosed with a serious illness requiring specialized care. Despite this, officials at the detention center have denied her permission to go to the hospital. Even after her release on December 30, she remained under restrictions and was not taken for medical treatment.
The international human rights organization Front Line Defenders (FLD) has also expressed concern over this case. The organization stated that Yang Li is being targeted for her human rights work, and the denial of medical care appears to be part of a “systematic policy of retaliation” for exposing alleged abuses related to land rights.