Open for Signatures - Joint Letter on the Case of Artist Gao Zhen, Unjustly Imprisoned
Artist Gao Zhen 高兟 has been arrested in Beijing and charged with “insulting the Martyrs,” apparently in reference to his sculptures criticizing Mao Zedong, including “A kneeling Mao in repentance,” and “The execution of Jesus.” The Gao Brothers, Gao Zhen together with his brother Gao Qiang, are known for their astonishing artwork exposing the true nature of Mao Zedong and the CCP regime. These works were created many years before the so-called “Martyrs” law was passed. Gao Zhen was on a short trip with his family back to China from their residence in Long Island. His wife and six year old son were also stopped at the airport and prevented from leaving China. Gao’s wife is a green card holder and his son is a U.S. citizen.
Human Rights in China shares the following letter on behalf of a group of Chinese artists.
Gathering Joint Signatures
Open Letter to the Public Security Bureau of Sanhe City:
Gao Zhen, the elder of the well-known Chinese contemporary artist duo the Gao Brothers, aged 68, was reportedly arrested and detained at the Sanhe City Detention Center upon his return to China from the United States, where he was visiting family.
Mr. Gao Zhen, the artist, is nearing seventy years of age and suffers from chronic back problems. According to the detention notice, he is accused of "infringing on the reputation and honor of heroes and martyrs," a crime based on the sculptures "Miss Mao Series," "Execution of Christ," and "Kneeling Repentant Mao," which were created many years ago by the Gao Brothers, Gao Zhen and his younger brother Gao Qiang. We understand that the Gao Brothers' artworks may have touched on political sensitivities, but they have not violated Chinese laws or the constitutional rights to freedom of speech. Therefore, we strongly demand the repeal of the 2021 Criminal Law amendment on "infringing on the reputation and honor of heroes and martyrs," which is being used as a pretext to detain the artist for artworks created years ago, and urge the immediate release of Gao Zhen.
Mao Zedong ruled China as a dictator for many years, resulting in countless unjust and false cases, especially during the Cultural Revolution, when almost every family suffered, including the Gao Brothers, whose father died tragically during that period, with no explanation provided to this day. Now, the Public Security Bureau of Sanhe City is treating Gao Zhen's artistic creations as criminal evidence, repeating the persecutions of the Cultural Revolution. We feel perplexed and saddened. We also sense that control over China's art community is tightening, and anyone could become the next detainee. Clearly, this is not the kind of case the Chinese government would want to see as it opens its doors and moves towards globalization.
We hope for the immediate release of artist Gao Zhen, allowing him to reunite with his family and demonstrating that China is committed to the rule of law. Gao Zhen's brother, Gao Qiang, also believes that "retrospective punishment for actions preceding the enactment of the new law contradicts the universally accepted 'principle of non-retroactivity' in modern legal systems. Moreover, there should be a clear boundary between artistic expression and criminal behavior."
We sincerely invite all sectors to sign this petition to restore Mr. Gao Zhen's freedom and reduce political censorship in China's artistic creation field.
Signatures can be submitted by liking or signing under this letter and by forwarding and returning signatures. A consolidated list of signatures will be submitted to international human rights organizations.
Email: majian53@yahoo.com.hk
September 2, 2024
Initiators:
Writer Ma Jian
Writer Ye Fu
Poet Wang Zang
Writer Sheng Xue
Poet Hu Dong
Painter Gao Qiang
公 开 信
致河北三河市公安局：
中国知名当代艺术家高氏兄弟中的哥哥，现年68岁的高兟，惊传由美国回中国探亲时，被抓捕拘押在三河市看守所。
艺术家高兟先生已近七十岁，且腰病缠身。根据拘留通知书内容，他的罪名是涉嫌侵害英雄烈士名誉罪，也就是高氏兄弟二人高兟与弟弟高强二位兄弟，多年前共同制作的《毛小姐系列》、《枪决基督》《下跪忏悔的毛》等雕塑作品。我们能理解，高氏兄弟创作的艺术作品触碰了政治规矩，但没有触及中国的法律和宪法规定的言论自由。因此，我们强烈要求取消2021年新增刑法条例“侵害英雄烈士名誉荣誉罪”，成为多年前高氏兄弟创作的作品成为拘押艺术家的罪名，尽快还高兟人身自由。
毛泽东在中国独裁统制了多年，冤假错案数不胜数，特别是文化大革命其间，几乎每个家庭都受到冲击，高氏兄弟的父亲就惨死在那个时期，其家人至今得不到一个说法。今天，三河市公安局竟把高兟的艺术创作当成罪证，重蹈文革迫害。我们感到不解和悲痛。也感到中国的艺术界正在收紧管控，人人都会成为下一位被拘押者。而这显然不是中国政府，在开放国门走向全球化时愿意看到的案例。
我们期待尽快释放艺术家高兟，让他和家属团聚，以彰显中国正在以法治国。
高兟的弟弟高强也认为，“对新法生效之前的有关行为进行追溯性惩罚，有悖于现代法治通用的‘无追溯力原则’。而且，艺术表达与犯罪行为应当有边界。”
现诚恳邀请各界签名呼吁，还高兟先生自由，停止对中国文学艺术创作领域的政治审查。
（签名以在本文之下点赞或签名传回为准，也请转发再把签名传回，集中签名后，再考量把签名单向国际人权组织递交。）
邮箱：majian53@yahoo.com.hk
2024.9.2日
发起人签名：
作家 马 建
作家 野 夫
艺朮家 高強
诗人 王 藏
作家 張戎
作家 盛 雪
詩人 胡冬
作家 周勍
畫家 王蒙龍
畫家 張淼
策展人 夢蘭
司機 凌勇
和尚 望云
作家 張朴
诗人 杨炼
画家 友友
作家 东亚
诗人 叶荣（叶公子）
作家 张無忌
作家 艺术家 黄翔
作家出版人 秋潇雨兰
艺术家 艾松
社工 孟霖
艺术家 苍鑫
诗人 导演 陈家坪
艺术家 卯丁
公民 周世锋
公民 沈良庆
评论家 令狐冲
艺术家 常磊
出版人 荣伟
作家 万之
艺术家 金锋
公民 沈良庆
诗人 刘洪彬
公民 周峰锁
作家 吳政
作家 野火
艺术家 盛奇
作家 郑义
作家 北明
艺术家 杜应红
画家 武文建
编辑 张菁
