November 21, 2021
Cited article by Al Jazeera
HRRC's Response:
International concern over the Chinese tennis star, Peng Shuai, has been growing since her apparent disappearance after November 2nd. That day, Peng posted on social media that the former vice-premier, Zhang Gaoli, had coerced her into sex. This post was quickly removed, and any discussion on the topic was blocked on Chinese internet. Neither Zhang nor the Chinese government have responded to the allegations and Peng hasn't been seen or heard from until very recently.
The Women's Tennis Association (WTA), the United States, and the United Kingdom all called for evidence of Peng's whereabouts. The WTA state that they did receive an email supposedly from Peng recounting her previous statement, but are highly suspicious of the authenticity of the email. Images were released on the 21st of November showing Peng at a restaurant the previous day as well as at a Tennis opening ceremony on the morning of the 21st. Peng is the most recent in a list of Chinese business workers, activists, and citizens who disappeared after making public statements about Chinese party members and leaders. Some reappear later without any explanation for their absence.
HRRC joins the international community in concerns over the safety of Chinese citizens. With the upcoming Olympics, HRRC urges all organizations and countries who plan to participate to take measures to ensure the Olympics do not provide a cover for ongoing human rights abuses.