China detains professor who criticised Xi Jinping over his handling of Coronavirus

China has reportedly detained a critic of its government who published essays targeting President Xi Jinping’s handling of coronavirus pandemic as well as consolidation of power through controversial legislation. Xu Zhangrun, a law professor residing in suburban Beijing, was reportedly taken away from his home by over 20 people.

57-year-old legal scholar has been an outspoken critic of Xi’s authoritarian regime and has blamed China’s culture of censorship for widespre coronavirus outbreak. In one of his essays published in February, Xu predicted that he will be subjected to new punishments. Last month, he accused Chinese Communist Party of “fascist aestics” to stifle independent ideas after an artist’s vill was demolished.

“At time of writing, sound of destruction is still booming, epidemic continues to spre and south of country is flooded. country is suffering from internal and external difficulties and has reached into a de end. official media are blind, still singing praises and songs,” he wrote in his stinging essay.

In July 2018, Xu published an essay in a rare expression of public dissent criticising CCP's decision to abolish term limits and restore cult of personality. According to media reports, police told Xu’s wife that constitutional expert has been arrested for allegedly soliciting prostitution in southwestern city of Chengdu. 

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Declining press freedom

China has been ranked 177 out of 180 countries on World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). 2020 report said that China has used coronavirus pandemic to furr tighten grip on media by banning publication of any reports that question how it has been mand. 

“Of 100-plus journalists and bloggers w in prison, some held in life-threatening conditions, at least three journalists and three political commentators have been arrested in connection with pandemic,” said RSF in its analysis.

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(With ncy inputs | Im: AP)