A Chinese student activist advocating for Tibetan rights has been detained for nearly two months on allegations of “inciting separatism” while she was temporarily visiting China from France, according to her friends and a human rights organization.
Zhang Yadi, 22, also referred to as Tara, was reported missing in the southwestern province of Yunnan on July 31, and since that date, she has been unreachable by her friends or family, as stated by her friends and the New York-based Human Rights Watch.
It is believed that she is being held at a detention center in her hometown of Changsha, located in the southern province of Hunan, as reported by Human Rights Watch.
Zhang’s family members could not be contacted for comments. The police in Changsha did not respond immediately to a request for information.
Two friends, both of whom are Chinese human rights activists residing abroad, indicated that she was detained on the grounds of “inciting separatism,” based on a formal detention notice received by her family.
Activists note that this charge, which can result in a maximum prison sentence of 15 years, is seldom applied to individuals from the Han Chinese ethnic majority like Zhang, but it is increasingly being utilized to target those who advocate for minority rights.
Issues concerning ethnic minorities are extremely sensitive in China, with Tibetans and other minority groups subjected to intense surveillance for any indications of “separatism,” support for the exiled Dalai Lama, whom Beijing regards as a pariah, or dissatisfaction with the Communist Party’s governance.
Feng Siyu, a Han Chinese researcher specializing in Uyghur culture, was detained in 2018 and subsequently sentenced to 15 years in prison for separatism, as reported by the NGO Human Rights in China earlier this year.
Rights organizations assert that the charge of inciting separatism has been frequently employed to convict ethnic Uyghurs and Tibetans during extensive security crackdowns in both regions in recent years, sometimes for actions such as traveling abroad or practicing their faith.
Beijing refutes any allegations of misconduct and asserts that the enforcement actions were necessary to eliminate terrorism, religious extremism, and separatist activities.
Zhang was pursuing her studies in France and intended to travel to London in September to commence a master’s program at the School of Oriental and African Studies, according to her friends. They mentioned that she had returned to Changsha on July 5 to visit her family.
One of her friends, Ginger Duan, a Chinese activist for Tibet based in the United States, stated that Zhang’s defense attorney, appointed by her family, has been unable to meet with her. Reuters has been unsuccessful in contacting the lawyer.
Zhang is affiliated with the advocacy organization Chinese Youth Stand for Tibet, which aims to foster dialogue between ethnic Han Chinese and Tibetans, and she served as a contributing editor for its Substack publication.
(This is an agency report. Aside from the headline, the content has not been revised by Firstpost staff.)
