作者/编辑：李聪玲
责任编辑：罗志飞
2024年7月13日，中国民主党人昝爱宗、邹巍等，仅仅因为在钱塘江边悼念诺贝尔和平奖得主刘晓波，就被中共当局粗暴抓捕。7月20日，邹巍以“寻衅滋事罪”遭到刑拘，并于8月26日被正式批捕。如今，他即将站在杭州拱墅法院的被告席上，面对一场注定不公正的政治审判。
在当局眼中，悼念是罪，言论是罪，良知是罪。可是，在人民心中，悼念是人性，言论是权利，良知是光芒。今天，我们必须大声疾呼：声援邹巍！言论无罪！释放良心犯！
刘晓波先生是中国当代最具国际影响力的民主斗士，他以非暴力抗争与公民勇气，获得诺贝尔和平奖。他的离世，不仅是知识界的巨大损失，更是中国民主运动的巨大悲剧。任何一个有良知的中国人，都有权利为他悼念。邹巍与昝爱宗等人仅仅是在钱塘江边举起悼念横幅，这样的举动完全是和平、合法、正当的。他们没有扰乱社会秩序，没有危害任何公共安全，更没有侵犯他人利益。相反，他们的行为体现了作为公民的责任与担当。然而，中共当局却将悼念视为威胁，将记忆当成敌人。因为在独裁者眼里，纪念刘晓波，就是提醒世人：这个国家依然有人在抗争，依然有人敢于说“不”。对他们来说，这种记忆比任何武器都要危险。
“寻衅滋事”已经成为中共最常用的政治工具，它是一个模糊、空洞的口袋罪，可以随意套在任何人的头上。从维权律师，到独立学者，从街头抗议者，到网络发声者，无数敢于直言的公民都曾被这个罪名压制。但我们必须追问：到底谁在寻衅滋事？是那些举横幅悼念的公民，还是那个害怕悼念的政权？是那些和平表达诉求的人，还是那个动辄抓捕异议者的权力机器？
言论自由不是西方的“专利”，它是写入《世界人权宣言》的基本权利。中共自己签署的《公民权利和政治权利国际公约》，也明确保障思想、言论与集会自由。可见，今天的迫害不仅违反道义，也违背国际法。一个不能容忍悼念的人，一个连批评都惧怕的政权，本身才是真正的“滋事者”。
邹巍是谁？他是中国民主党人，是一位坚持信念的公民。他的行动没有任何暴力，没有任何煽动，更没有任何破坏。他唯一的“罪行”，就是在威权高压下，依然选择了勇敢发声。今天，中共要用铁窗禁锢邹巍的身体，却无法摧毁他内心的自由。正如历史上一切良心犯一样，他们的名字终将被铭记，他们的坚持终将启迪更多人。
我们必须重申：邹巍无罪！立即释放邹巍！让一个良心之士蒙冤，说明体制的荒谬；让一位民主斗士坐牢，只能让更多人看清专制的丑陋。
历史告诉我们：当权力把“悼念”定罪，把“言论”定罪时，如果社会选择沉默，就是在替独裁背书。正因如此，我们呼吁国际社会继续关注邹巍案，持续对中共施压。各国政府、人权组织、媒体不应对这样的冤案视而不见。只有当全球目光聚焦，当外部压力存在，专制才会有所忌惮。我们也呼吁海内外公民共同声援。转发邹巍案的消息，公开表达支持，推动更多人了解真相。自由需要传播，良知需要接力。今天我们为邹巍发声，就是在为我们每一个人的未来发声。
言论自由，是一切自由的起点。剥夺了言论，自由只剩空壳，社会便沦为恐惧的囚笼。邹巍案的发生，再次证明中共政权对自由的恐惧与敌意。它害怕人们纪念先贤，害怕人们回望历史，害怕真相在黑暗中点燃火光。但正是这种恐惧，反而昭示了专制的脆弱。独裁可以囚禁肉身，却囚禁不了人心；权力可以压制当下，却压制不了未来。纵然黑暗笼罩，但星火已在燃烧。今天，我们高喊：释放邹巍！释放所有良心犯！言论无罪！民主必胜！
正在经历的不仅是邹巍这一场审判，更是中国社会良知的审判。中共要让人们忘记刘晓波，要让公民噤声，要让历史停摆。但我们不会忘记，我们不会噤声，我们不会沉默。只要还有人发声，只要还有人铭记，独裁就不可能永远存在。邹巍的坚持，将成为更多人觉醒的灯塔。让我们一起，声援邹巍，声援所有因追求自由而遭受迫害的人。因为他们的自由，就是我们的自由；他们的命运，就是我们的命运。邹巍无罪！释放邹巍！言论无罪！释放所有良心犯！
照片：左起邹巍、朱虞夫、徐光、陈开频2022年春节在徐光家
Support Zou Wei — Speech Is Not a Crime,
Free All Prisoners of Conscience
Summary: Chinese Democracy Party member Zou Wei faces trial on charges of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” for commemorating Liu Xiaobo. Mourning is not a crime; freedom of expression is a universal right. We call out: Zou Wei is innocent—release him immediately!
Author/Editor: Li ConglingExecutive Editor: Luo ZhifeiTranslator: Lyu Feng
On July 13, 2024, Chinese Democracy Party members Zan Aizong, Zou Wei, and others were brutally arrested by the authorities simply for holding a commemoration for Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo by the Qiantang River. On July 20, Zou Wei was placed under criminal detention on charges of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” and on August 26 he was formally arrested. Now, he is about to stand trial in Hangzhou’s Gongshu District Court, facing a political trial that is certain to be unjust.
In the eyes of the authorities, mourning is a crime, speech is a crime, conscience is a crime. But in the hearts of the people, mourning is humanity, speech is a right, conscience is light. Today, we must raise our voices: Support Zou Wei! Speech is not a crime! Free all prisoners of conscience!
Liu Xiaobo was the most internationally influential democracy activist in contemporary China. Through nonviolent resistance and civic courage, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. His passing was not only a great loss to the intellectual community but also a tragedy for China’s democratic movement. Every conscientious Chinese citizen has the right to mourn him. Zou Wei, Zan Aizong, and others merely raised a banner by the Qiantang River in remembrance—a peaceful, lawful, and legitimate act. They disturbed no social order, threatened no public safety, and harmed no one’s interests. On the contrary, their actions embodied civic duty and responsibility. Yet the authorities treated mourning as a threat and memory as an enemy. For dictators, commemorating Liu Xiaobo means reminding the world that resistance continues, that there are still people brave enough to say “no.” To them, this memory is more dangerous than any weapon.
“Picking quarrels and provoking trouble” has become the most common political tool used by the regime. It is a vague, catch-all charge that can be pinned on anyone at will. From rights lawyers to independent scholars, from street protesters to online voices, countless outspoken citizens have been suppressed under this accusation. But we must ask: who is really picking quarrels? Is it the citizens who raise banners in mourning, or the regime that fears such mourning? Is it those who peacefully express themselves, or the machinery of power that arrests dissenters at every turn?
Freedom of expression is not a “Western privilege”—it is a basic right enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Even the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which the Chinese government itself signed, guarantees freedom of thought, speech, and assembly. Today’s persecution is not only immoral but also a violation of international law. A regime that cannot tolerate mourning, that fears even criticism, is the true “provoker of trouble.”
Who is Zou Wei? He is a member of the China Democracy Party, a citizen of conviction. His actions involve no violence, no incitement, no destruction. His only “crime” is choosing to speak out courageously under authoritarian repression. Today, the authorities may imprison his body, but they cannot imprison his inner freedom. Like all prisoners of conscience in history, his name will be remembered, and his perseverance will inspire many more.
We must reaffirm: Zou Wei is innocent! Release him immediately! To let a man of conscience be wrongfully punished exposes the absurdity of the system; to imprison a democracy activist only makes the ugliness of tyranny clearer to the world.
History tells us this: when power criminalizes mourning and speech, silence from society is tantamount to endorsing dictatorship. This is why we call on the international community to keep a close watch on the Zou Wei case and to continue pressuring the regime. Governments, human rights organizations, and media worldwide must not turn a blind eye to such injustice. Only when global attention and external pressure exist will authoritarianism feel any restraint. We also call on citizens, at home and abroad, to show solidarity: share the news of Zou Wei’s case, publicly express support, and help more people learn the truth. Freedom must be spread, conscience must be passed on. Speaking up for Zou Wei today is speaking up for the future of us all.
Freedom of expression is the foundation of all freedoms. Without it, freedom is an empty shell, and society becomes a prison of fear. The case of Zou Wei once again proves the regime’s deep fear and hostility toward freedom. It fears people honoring their heroes, fears people remembering history, fears truth sparking light in the darkness. But it is precisely this fear that reveals the fragility of tyranny. Dictatorship can imprison bodies but not souls; it can suppress the present but not the future. Though darkness looms, sparks are already burning. Today, we shout: Free Zou Wei! Free all prisoners of conscience! Speech is not a crime! Democracy will prevail!
What is unfolding is not only the trial of Zou Wei but also a trial of China’s collective conscience. The authorities want people to forget Liu Xiaobo, silence citizens, and freeze history. But we will not forget, we will not be silenced, we will not remain quiet. As long as there are voices, as long as there is memory, dictatorship cannot last forever. Zou Wei’s perseverance will be a beacon of awakening for many more. Let us unite in support of Zou Wei and all those persecuted for pursuing freedom. Their freedom is our freedom; their fate is our fate.
Zou Wei is innocent! Release Zou Wei! Speech is not a crime! Free all prisoners of conscience!
Photo: From left to right — Zou Wei, Zhu Yufu, Xu Guang, and Chen Kaiping, taken during the 2022 Spring Festival at Xu Guang’s home.
