Dear Mr. Johann Wadephul,

I am Lyu Zhanqiu, a former software engineer who is self-taught in law and has long been engaged in human rights activism in China. I am writing to you urgently to request your immediate intervention to protect my son from persecution in China. My life has been marked by relentless persecution under the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime, which ultimately forced me into exile abroad. Today, I reach out to you with a heavy heart and a desperate plea for your intervention to save my son, an innocent young man whose life is being destroyed simply because of my advocacy for human rights and justice.

In February 2023, I was illegally arrested, interrogated, searched, detained, and even physically threatened by police officers from the Xincheng Police Station in Suiyang District, Shangqiu City, Henan Province, including Station Chief Yang Jingtao and Captain Chen Xiaodong of the Fourth Case Review Team. This stemmed from my questioning of police misconduct. Since then, the CCP has subjected me to constant surveillance, making it impossible for me to seek legal recourse. Under their authoritarian system, the courts, police, and procuratorate are deeply intertwined, sharing information seamlessly. Any attempt to sue would result in immediate arrest. With no avenue for justice in China, I was compelled to flee overseas, taking my 12-year-old daughter with me as we evade transnational threats across Southeast Asia.

My activism—publicly exposing the CCP's human rights abuses, authoritarian rule, and Xi Jinping's dictatorship—has not only targeted me but also extended to my family in a cruel form of collective punishment known as "guilt by association". My elderly father, nearly 80 and almost completely blind, was violently assaulted, resulting in a broken arm. My son suffered a bite wound to his arm during an attack. These acts of violence are part of a broader pattern of harassment and intimidation designed to silence me.

The most heartbreaking aspect of this ordeal is the devastating impact on my son. He is a law-abiding university graduate, honest and hardworking, with no wrongdoing of his own. His only "crime" is being my son—the son of someone who dared to speak out against injustice. As a result, he has been stripped of his job, deprived of economic stability, and subjected to an exit ban that prevents him from leaving China. Multiple requests to lift this restriction have been ignored — a blatant violation of China's own laws. This "guilt by association" punishment is a barbaric relic that inflicts unimaginable suffering on innocent family members.

The CCP's relentless social and political pressure has pushed my son to the brink. He endures pervasive surveillance and societal ostracism, which have inflicted severe psychological trauma. His mental state has deteriorated alarmingly under this constant strain, leading to profound emotional distress and a genuine risk to his life. The isolation, loss of livelihood, and inability to escape this oppressive environment have created a mental health crisis that worsens daily. Without urgent intervention, I fear irreversible harm—including the risk of suicide or a severe mental breakdown. This is not just a family matter, but also a stark violation of international human rights standards, where an authoritarian regime punishes the innocent to suppress dissent.

Mr. Wadephul, as you prepare for your upcoming visit to China, I implore you to uphold Germany's proud tradition of defending human rights, freedom, and the rule of law. Germany has a moral obligation and historical duty to stand against systematic human rights abuses by authoritarian regimes. Under Xi Jinping's leadership, China's human rights situation has only worsened, with intensified suppression of free speech, pervasive surveillance, and normalized political persecution. Remaining silent on these issues during your visit would risk undermining Germany's credibility as a global champion of human rights.

I earnestly request that you raise the following demands during your meetings with CCP officials:

1. Demand an immediate end to the retaliatory actions against my family, including all forms of harassment and surveillance.

2. Urge the CCP to lift the exit ban on my son, allowing him to seek safety abroad and rebuild his life free from persecution.

3. Express Germany's grave concerns about China's deteriorating human rights record, including arbitrary detentions and restrictions on freedom of expression.

4. Directly confront CCP leaders with these urgent humanitarian concerns.

5. Utilize all diplomatic tools, including considering targeted sanctions against CCP officials responsible for these systematic human rights violations, and advocate for international accountability mechanisms.

This plea is not solely about my family; it concerns the global fight against authoritarianism and the preservation of Europe's cherished values. The world is watching Germany's response. I beseech you to prioritize human rights over diplomatic expediency or economic interests. Silence in the face of such tyranny equates to complicity.

My son's suffering is a human tragedy that underscores the CCP's flagrant abuse of power through exit bans and collective punishment. As the Foreign Minister of a principled democratic nation like Germany, your voice carries immense moral weight. Please use it to amplify his plight, press for the unjust restrictions to be removed, and enable him to regain his freedom before it is too late. This is a matter of life and dignity—help prevent further devastation and avert a potential catastrophe.

I am available for further discussion and can provide additional documentation upon request

Thank you for taking the time to read this urgent open letter. I trust in your conscience and commitment to justice to act swiftly and decisively.

Sincerely,
Lyu Zhanqiu
Email:[email protected]
https://doourbest.org
Exiled Human Rights Defender from China

November 6, 2025