Chinese artist Gao Zhen jailed for satirical Mao Zedong works under 'heroes and martyrs' law

Consensus Summary

Chinese artist Gao Zhen, 70, was sentenced to three years in prison for satirical works depicting Mao Zedong, including a 2009 statue called *Mao’s Guilt* and a piece called *Miss Mao*. His arrest occurred two years ago, on 26 August 2024, while visiting family in China, and he was charged under the 'Law on the Protection of Heroes and Martyrs,' which came into effect in March 2018. The law was applied retroactively to works created between 2005 and 2009, sparking international condemnation. Gao Zhen’s wife, Zhao Yaliang, and their US citizen son have been barred from leaving China since his detention. Both sources agree on the core facts of the case, including the sentence, the dates of arrest, and the nature of the artworks, though minor phrasing differences exist. Gao Zhen’s family and human rights groups have called for his immediate release, citing violations of artistic freedom and due process.