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Gao Zhen sentenced to three years in prison after already spending two years in detention
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World — Danny Vincent in Taipei
Gao Zhen sentenced to three years in prison after already spending two years in detention
Gao Zhen, a prominent Chinese artist known for provocative sculptures of the former leader Mao Zedong, has been sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty of slandering China’s “heroes and martyrs”. The sentencing came two years after he was detained while visiting the country with his family, according to his wife and human rights groups.
The case has attracted international condemnation , largely because the artworks at the centre of the case were created more than 10 years before China created the law under which Gao was charged.
Gao Zhen, a prominent Chinese artist known for provocative sculptures of the former leader Mao Zedong, has been sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty of slandering China’s “heroes and martyrs”. The sentencing came two years after he was detained while visiting the country with his family, according to his wife and human rights groups.
This report is published with credit to The Guardian. The wire sent a summary; open the original for any extra context. Read on The Guardian →
Source: The Guardian · Danny Vincent in Taipei. Published 25 Aug 2026, 11:53 am.
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