China - Country of Concern: latest update, 30 September 2014

The period from 1 July to 30 September saw continuing restrictions on civil and political freedoms in China. Detentions of human rights defenders (HRDs) continued as part of an ongoing clampdown on freedom of expression, association and assembly. Security restrictions in ethnic minority areas remained tight.

The UK government continued to raise human rights issues directly with Chinese counterparts, including in high-level bilateral exchanges, and in multilateral fora, including the UN Human Rights Council.

There were some developments relating to judicial reform. In July, the Supreme People's Court (SPC) announced its fourth five-year court reform programme. The plans focus on building a more professional judiciary, curbing interference with case outcomes, and tackling local government protectionism.

Restrictions on freedom of expression persisted. In August, new regulations were issued obliging users of popular instant-messaging platforms to abide by seven "bottom lines", including "upholding the socialist system", as well as requiring real-name registration.

Uyghur academic Ilham Tohti was tried on charges of separatism in Xinjiang in September, and sentenced to life imprisonment. The charge apparently related to the content of his media interviews, online articles and university lectures. Diplomats, including from the UK, and international media were refused access to his trial. The UK joined the EU and other governments in expressing deep concern about the sentence and the lack of transparency during the trial, and called for his release.

Kunming blogger Dong Rubin was sentenced to six-and-a-half years' imprisonment in July for "spreading online rumours" and "illegal business operations". In September, Beijing writer Huang Zerong (also known as Tie Liu) was detained for "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" after allegedly criticising Party leaders online. Journalist Cao Boyin was detained in Beijing in September on the same charge, having spoken out about torture in Chinese detention facilities and promoted education rights for migrant children.

An ongoing crackdown on civil society activism saw more HRDs detained and tried in this period. Lawyer Chang Boyang and several other activists detained in Zhengzhou after commemorating the 25th anniversary of 4 June 1989 were formally arrested, and continue to be held incommunicado. Hangzhou-based dissident Lü Gengsong, a member of the banned China Democracy Party (CDP), was formally arrested on charges of subversion in August. CDP member Chen Shuqing was detained on the same charge in September. Activist Guo Feixiong (Yang Maodong), detained since August 2013, went on trial for public order offences in September in Guangzhou. Diplomats, including from the UK, were refused access to the trial. Also in September, Anhui dissident Zhang Lin was sentenced to three-and-a-half years' imprisonment in relation to protests over his daughter's removal from school.

Other prominent HRDs remained in extra-legal detention, including Mongolian dissident Hada and Liu Xia, wife of imprisoned Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo. Others continued to be harassed, including Beijing-based activist Hu Jia, who was beaten by unknown assailants in July and held under intermittent house arrest.

Leading human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng was released from prison in August after completing his sentence for inciting subversion. Gao had reportedly been held in solitary confinement, tortured and denied access to adequate medical care. He remains under close police supervision at the home of a relative. UK officials have repeatedly raised his case with the Chinese government, and did so again prior to his release.

Other rights lawyers continued to report reprisals in connection with their work. Beijing lawyer Cheng Hai and Guangdong lawyer Wang Quanping were both disbarred during this period by local justice authorities, apparently in connection with the trial of New Citizens' Movement activist Ding Jiaxi in April.

Reports of detentions connected with freedom of religion or belief continued. Henan pastor Zhang Shaojie's appeal against a 12-year prison sentence for fraud and public order offences was denied in August. Falun Gong practitioners Wen Yingzhou and Zhang Haixia were tried in Heilongjiang in August for "illegal cult activities". In Guangdong, Buddhist master Wu Zeheng and several of his followers were detained in July on charges reportedly including fraud, rape and "illegal cult activities".

Chinese courts continued to hand down death sentences for crimes including terror offences. In September, three Uyghurs were sentenced to death for homicide and "leading and organising a terror group", in relation to a mass stabbing attack at Kunming railway station in March, in which dozens of people died.

There were continuing reports of abuses of due process connected to an ongoing anti-terror campaign in Xinjiang. Embassy staff visiting the region observed official efforts to discourage certain Islamic dress customs. As in past years, reports of restrictions on the celebration of Ramadan in Xinjiang were confirmed by information on local government websites.

Deadly outbreaks of violence continued to be reported in Xinjiang. State media described these as terrorist attacks, while Uyghur exile groups alleged that some involved the use of lethal force to suppress protests. At least 96 people reportedly died in one such incident near Shache (Yarkand) in July. Nine "terror suspects" were reportedly shot dead near Hotan in August. In September, at least 50 people reportedly died in an incident in Luntai County.

In August, Tibetan exile groups alleged that police had used excessive force to disperse protesters in Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, seriously injuring several people. Some reports claimed that five Tibetans later died from their injuries.

There were ongoing reports of arbitrary detentions and imprisonment of Tibetan lay people and monks. In September, monk Lobsang Gendun was reportedly sentenced to ten years' imprisonment in Changdu, Tibetan Autonomous Region, after publicly calling for the return of the Dalai Lama in July 2013. Also in September, a court in Lanzhou, Gansu, sentenced monk Labrang Jigme Gyatso to five years' imprisonment for "separatism". Tibetan blogger Dawa Tsomo's whereabouts remain unknown following her detention in August for "violating internet rules and regulations".

There was at least one reported fatal self-immolation in a Tibetan area of China during this period in Hezuo, Gansu Province.