UN human rights office raises concern around trial of Chinese dissident artist

By Olivia Le Poidevin

GENEVA, ‌April 15 (Reuters) - ​The ​United Nations human rights office on Wednesday said it was concerned by the trial of Chinese ‌dissident artist Gao Zhen, famous for making provocative satirical ⁠sculptures of former leader Mao Zedong.

Gao was tried at the end ‌of March over accusations ‌of "slandering national heroes and martyrs", the U.N. human rights office said — a law which it said came into force ​more than a decade after the satirical sculptures were created.

"The case against him raises concerns with regard to ⁠retroactive application of criminal law and use of criminal sanctions to punish artistic expression, ​undermining the principle of legality," the office said in a statement.

The Chinese mission in Geneva did ​not immediately respond to a Reuters ‌request for comment.

Gao, who was detained in 2024 during a visit from the U.S., faces ⁠a maximum three-year prison sentence, said his wife Zhao Yaliang and Shane Yi, a researcher at the Chinese Human Rights Defenders group ⁠which operates outside the country.

The U.N. rights office called for Gao's ​immediate release from detention, where he is being held pending judgment after his closed-door trial concluded on March 30, citing concerns that his ‌health is deteriorating.

The one-day trial took place at Sanhe City People's Court in Hebei province, ‌neighbouring the capital Beijing, and ended without a verdict, Zhao ⁠and Yi told Reuters, ‌citing information from ​his lawyers.

Verdicts are often announced months later in such trials.

(Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin; Editing by Janane ‌Venkatraman)

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