On February 2nd, at 9 o’clock in the morning, the mother of Xu Zhiyong, the founder of the New Citizen Movement and a legal scholar, passed away at the age of 92. However, at this crucial moment of the passing of his dearest mother, Xu Zhiyong himself is currently serving a fourteen-year prison sentence and is unable to bid a final farewell to his mother or pay his respects before her remains. Activists living overseas are calling on the Chinese authorities to grant Xu Zhiyong basic human rights and allow him to attend his mother’s funeral.
Living in Germany, Wang Shoufeng, the Vice Chairman of the China Democracy Front in Germany and co-founder of the New Citizen Movement European Union, told reporters that not being able to see a loved one before their passing is a pain that no family should have to endure. He emphasized that this situation not only exacerbates the personal and familial tragedy but also raises concerns about humanitarian treatment and basic human rights in society.
Wang Shoufeng urged the Chinese authorities to engage in a serious and rational public discussion on the basic human rights that Xu Zhiyong should be entitled to at the time of his mother’s passing.
He stressed that allowing inmates to bid farewell or mourn the passing of immediate family members falls within the realm of humanity, rather than politics or judiciary.
Wang Shoufeng pointed out that Xu Zhiyong is not a violent criminal and has not engaged in behavior directly threatening public safety. Over the years, Xu Zhiyong has been involved in public affairs discussions in an open and non-violent manner, advocating for constitutionalism, rule of law, and civil rights, as well as initiating the New Citizen Movement with proposals such as public disclosure of officials’ assets, education equality, and governing by law.
Regardless of how society evaluates his views and actions, Wang Shoufeng believes that it is difficult to argue that Xu Zhiyong should be denied the most basic humane treatment during the passing of his mother.
From a social ethics perspective, Wang Shoufeng believes that family relationships and basic ethics are important foundations for society. While the state should carry out punishments according to the law, it should avoid inflicting additional pain on inmates and their families beyond the sentence itself in unnecessary circumstances.
He expressed that allowing an inmate to fulfill the basic duty of bidding farewell and showing filial piety when their mother passes away is not an endorsement of their stance but a sign of respect for the dignity of the deceased, family emotions, and societal ethical boundaries.
Lastly, Wang Shoufeng urged that how a society responds to reasonable humanitarian requests made by individuals who have lost their freedom in the face of significant life events is often seen as a crucial measure of its civilization and rule of law. He emphasized that humanitarian care does not weaken the authority of institutions; on the contrary, excessive indifference and punitive treatment may undermine the moral foundation of the system and societal trust.
It has been reported that Xu Zhiyong’s mother is scheduled to be laid to rest on February 4th, and time is running out. Based on the above facts and principles, Wang Shoufeng told Dajiyuan: “We once again urge the relevant authorities, out of humanitarian principles and ethical considerations, to immediately allow Xu Zhiyong to bid a necessary farewell and mourn before his mother’s burial, escorting his mother on her final journey. This action is not a political concession but a display of respect for the basic human dignity and the maintenance of shared social values.”