Nicola Macbean

Syrian who fled to UK charged with crimes against humanity over violent crackdown Former intelligence officer, 58, charged with murder and torture in first prosecution of its kind in England and Wales

An important prosecution.

I hope those perpetrating crimes against humanity in other countries pay attention.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

The Internet Coup: A Technical Analysis on How a Chinese Company is Exporting The Great Firewall to Autocratic Regimes | InterSecLab This research reveals groundbreaking findings on how Geedge Networks is selling an extensive suite of next-generation digital repression tools to client governments around the world.

be sure to check out this @interseclab.bsky.social report: interseclab.org/research/the... co-authored by @jurrevanbergen.nl

ZH: 網路政變 anoni.net/docs/report/...

Britain is the latest country to be plunged into yet another espionage scandal after an MP’s husband was arrested on suspicion of spying for China. Beijing’s long been known for its ‘thousand grains of sand’ strategy relying on amateur intelligence collectors, but it’s now increasingly … (1/3)

China prepares landmark law curtailing minority language rights Bill to ‘promote ethnic unity’ by mandating Mandarin use would hasten decline of other cultures, critics say

China is set to pass a landmark law mandating Mandarin as the main language of instruction for ethnic minorities, part of Xi Jinping’s #Sinicisation drive. Critics warn it will accelerate the decline of #Tibetan, #Uyghur & #Mongolian cultures & tighten controls on dissent. www.ft.com/content/94be...

Join the London book launch event on 11 March at SOAS: www.soas.ac.uk/about/event/...

Quite extraordinary. Police in China seem to be extending the scope of transnational repression to labour activism overseas.

So pleased for Daanika. And I know her mother will be extremely proud. I look forward to reading it.

Chinese journalists detained after publishing an investigation into a Communist Party official Chinese lawyers and writers are calling for the release of two journalists detained by authorities after they published an investigation into a senior Communist Party official.

My story today about the rare public outcry over the detention of two journalists in China. People are still speaking out corruption and defending the need for press freedom.
www.npr.org/2026/02/14/n...

A Chinese University of Hong Kong student who launched a now-removed petition calling for government accountability following November’s deadly Tai Po fire has said he has been expelled.

hongkongfp.com/2026/02/13/s... @hongkongfp.com

Hong Kong activist's father convicted under national security over insurance policy A Hong Kong court found the father of a wanted activist guilty of a national security violation on Wednesday after he tried to end her insurance policy and withdraw the funds, drawing international cr...

Appalled by the conviction of the father of Hong Kong WHRD Anna Kwok, in what appears to be clear retaliation for her human rights work carried out in exile. #China's relentless pursuit of HRDs at home & abroad must be taken into account by states considering ever closer ties with it.

Will watch the sentencing in this case with interest and concern. Under Article 23 legislation a suspended sentence is not allowed.

As the case of Jimmy Lai and his associates illustrates sentencing in Hong Kong is often heavier than on the mainland.

This is a shocking example of the power of Hong Kong’s national security laws to impact the family of activists. This high profile case is intended to silence the voices of Hong Kongers abroad.

"EU deplores the heavy prison sentence of 20 years imposed on British citizen and media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai by the Hong Kong High Court. The EU reiterates its call for the immediate and unconditional release of Jimmy Lai, also in consideration of his advanced age and health condition"

Hong Kong BN(O) Migrants Panel Survey Wave 2 Result Seminar Discover Wave 1 & 2 findings of the BN(O) Panel Survey on 11 Feb 2026. Panels on community and research findings. Join us for insights!

Five years on: Hong Kong migrants to the UK under the HK BN(O) visa scheme.

Findings from our @ukri.org funded survey,led by Tak Wing Chan (UCL), with me, @msumption.bsky.social @benbrindle.bsky.social

Wed, 2pm, at UCL

Register here:

www.eventbrite.com/e/hong-kong-...

Hong Kong press groups silent on jailing of media tycoon Jimmy Lai Neither the Hong Kong Journalists Association nor the local Foreign Correspondents' Club has posted statements on Monday's jailing of media tycoon Jimmy Lai.

Neither the Hong Kong Journalists Association nor the local Foreign Correspondents' Club has posted statements on Monday's jailing of media tycoon Jimmy Lai. In full: buff.ly/e4l2eHc

Foreign Secretary responds to Jimmy Lai sentencing Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper responds to the sentencing of Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong today.

UK Foreign Secretary: British National Jimmy Lai was today sentenced to 20 years in prison in Hong Kong for exercising his right to freedom of expression, following a politically motivated prosecution. www.gov.uk/government/n...

This case cannot be understood in isolation. Part of the dismal retreat from freedom of speech and the rule of law in Hong Kong.

Vindictive though sadly not unexpected.

"A new United Nations report has issued one of the clearest warnings to date that Chinese state policies in Tibet are actively eroding the foundations of #Tibetan civilisation, threatening the survival of Tibetans as a distinct people." via @tibetnet.bsky.social

tibet.net/un-report-wa...

China has lifted sanctions from six serving British MPs and peers, Starmer says Starmer confirms immediate removal, but it is unclear if sanctions remain on former MP, academic and barrister

It was easy for China to lift sanctions on UK parliamentarians. Clearly in their interest. More noteworthy would be lifting the sanctions on Jo Smith Finlay for her research on the Uyghurs.

And free Jimmy Lai.

www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...

Kazakhstan: Anti-China demonstrators face long prison terms after fiery protest Astana brings criminal charges only after Beijing complains.

China urged Kazakhstan to take "appropriate measures" against 19 citizens who protested last November against the detention of their family members in Xinjiang. They now face up to 10 years in prison for "inciting discord."
eurasianet.org/kazakhstan-a...

Tibetan singer Ah Sang released from prison but remains under surveillance - Phayul Phayul.com is one of the most popular & successful Tibetan news website in English. With daily readers touching over 12,500 and still growing. It features news and views on Tibet.

Despite release, Ah Sang remains under constant state #surveillance, reflecting continued repression of artistic and cultural expression in #Tibet phayul.com/tibetan-sing...

❗Lawyer #ZhangWenpeng faces trial Feb. 2 for picking quarrels. Detained since Sept. 2024, he allegedly endured torture. A court in Sanya will also try #XuZongpin on the same charge.
👉 www.nchrd.org/2025/10/aler...

It was a privilege to work on this report for the @europarl.europa.eu about transnational repression w/ @nateschenkkan.bsky.social @zecsaky.bsky.social & @emiledirks.bsky.social

Check it out here: www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en...

Counter-terrorism police investigating ‘highly targeted’ attacks on Pakistani dissidents in UK Exclusive: victims in hiding after attacks involving physical assault, attempted arson and the use of firearms

Shocking violent attacks on Pakistanis in UK.

Likely example of transnational repression which the government needs to be seen to be tackling or perpetrator states are further emboldened.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

UN experts alarmed by reports of forced labour of Uyghur, Tibetan and other minorities across China GENEVA – UN experts* today expressed deep concern regarding persistent allegations of forced labour affecting Uyghur, Kazakh and Kyrgyz minority groups as well as Tibetans within the Xinjiang Uyghur A...

UN experts warn forced labour targeting Uyghur, Kazakh, Kyrgyz and #Tibetan communities persists, driven by state “labour transfer” schemes. Coercion may amount to crimes against humanity.

Tibet: estimates near 650,000 labour transfers in 2024.

www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel... #supplychain

UN experts alarmed by reports of forced labour of Uyghur, Tibetan and other minorities across China GENEVA – UN experts* today expressed deep concern regarding persistent allegations of forced labour affecting Uyghur, Kazakh and Kyrgyz minority groups as well as Tibetans within the Xinjiang Uyghur A...

UN experts alarmed by reports of forced labour of Uyghur, Tibetan and other minorities across China - "In many cases, the coercive elements are so severe that they may amount to forcible transfer and/or enslavement as a crime against humanity." tinyurl.com/4rj58fwk

There are ‘no lawful means' to end CCP leadership, prosecution says as nat. sec trial of Tiananmen vigil activists starts | Hong Kong Free Press HKFP Hong Kong prosecutors have said there are “no lawful means to end the Chinese Communist Party’s leadership,” as the national security trial began for three activists who used to organise the city’s...

Hong Kong prosecutors have said there are “no lawful means to end the Chinese Communist Party’s leadership,” as the national security trial began for three activists who used to organise the city's annual Tiananmen vigils. In full: buff.ly/hAzxRkn