Chinese independent journalist Li Weizhong is being held on accusations of “inciting subversion of state power.” Police in China’s Hunan province arrested Li on October 10, 2024, and have held him incommunicado since then.
After his arrest, Li, known by the penname Li Yuanfeng, was placed under “administrative detention,” a form of arbitrary detention without trial. Fifteen days later, Hunan police accused Li of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” and held him under criminal detention for 18 days. On November 13, 2024, the charges were escalated to “inciting subversion of state power,” and Li was placed under “residential surveillance at a designated location,” another form of arbitrary detention, at an undisclosed location.
Li is known for writing political commentaries and investigating alleged human rights violations on his blog, and conducting vox pops. He became a subject of police surveillance after exposing stories of social injustice and alleged human rights abuses.
As of late 2024, CPJ was unable to confirm Li’s whereabouts.
In late 2024, CPJ sent a request for comment about Li to the Hunan Public Security Bureau via messaging app but did not receive a response.