On the eve of the “National Day” holiday in China, philanthropist and human rights activist Zhu Bin from Beijing was suddenly arrested and criminally detained, sparking concerns from the public. Analysts suggest that he may have become a target of persecution due to touching upon sensitive political nerves of the Chinese authorities.
According to reports from a rights advocacy website on October 4, Zhu Bin, the founder of a special needs school in Beijing, was detained by the Haidian Branch of the Beijing Public Security Bureau on September 29 on suspicion of provocation and creating disturbances. He is currently held in custody at the Haidian District Detention Center. The specific reasons for Zhu Bin’s arrest remain unclear at this time.
Zhu Bin, a 51-year-old individual from Fujian province and a Christian, has been running a special needs school in Beijing. After the exposure of the incident involving the “Iron Chain Girl”, he printed out and mailed a petition calling for a thorough investigation of the matter to the National People’s Congress, which resulted in police visits and questioning.
A detention notice from the Haidian Branch of the Beijing Public Security Bureau displayed that on the evening of September 29, Zhu Bin was criminally detained on suspicion of “provocation and creating disturbances” by the Haidian Branch and is currently being held at the Haidian District Detention Center.
Historian Li Yingzhi, currently residing in the United States, posted on a platform indicating that Zhu Bin, a dedicated public servant and rights activist in Beijing, has been detained at the Haidian Detention Center. The reasons behind his detention remain unclear. Li also shared a poem in support of Zhang Zhan composed by Zhu Bin.
Li Yingzhi expressed concerns about Zhu Bin’s situation, emphasizing his role as a core figure at the school where he serves as principal to around forty to fifty special needs children. He highlighted the important public welfare work Zhu Bin is involved in, mentioning that he has been closely monitored by the national security agents in Fujian.
Zhu Bin, a graduate of Zhejiang University in 1991, and Li Yingzhi, a student of Peking University from the Class of 1987, met through a fundraising initiative for a human rights activist in Nanjing back in late 2019. They have shared meals and conversations in Beijing, bonding over their shared interests.
Prominent dissident Lin Shengliang, who currently resides in the Netherlands, described Zhu Bin as a talented poet and the founder of the Deep Breath Education School. He speculated that Zhu Bin’s involvement in public welfare activities, such as fundraising during the COVID-19 pandemic, might have led to his persecution by the sensitive political nerves of the Chinese authorities.
Attempts to contact Zhu Bin’s wife for comments were unsuccessful. Coincidentally, the reporter had added Zhu Bin as a friend on social media half a month before his arrest. Upon reviewing Zhu Bin’s page, it was evident that he dedicated himself to educational initiatives at the Deep Breath Education School.
Public records indicate that the Deep Breath Learning Center, located in Changping, Beijing, was founded in March 2017 as an independent day school for grades 1-9. The center offers a diverse curriculum including language, math, English, coding, character building, handicraft, physics, chemistry, and features a special education resource room to support children with special needs such as autism, ADHD, cognitive delays, and Down syndrome.