Chinese Activist Faces Deportation as Denmark Denies Asylum Bid

Chinese Activist Faces Deportation as Denmark Denies Asylum Bid

By William Yang

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN — Chinese dissident Liu Dongling is at risk of deportation back to China after Denmark rejected her asylum application in June. This situation highlights the challenges that Chinese dissidents face when seeking refuge abroad, especially in Europe.

Liu has been leading the “Ban the Great Firewall” online campaign against China’s internet censorship regime since August 2023, following the deportation and detention of founder Qiao Xinxin in Laos on subversion charges. Danish immigration authorities informed Liu in June that they had rejected her asylum application following a two-year review and would repatriate her back to China in seven days. Fearing similar charges if deported to China, Liu fled to Sweden with her teenage son the next day.

“I’ve been in Sweden for more than two months, and I still can’t work here since I don’t have a proper legal status,” Liu told VOA in an interview in Stockholm. Liu cannot apply for asylum in Sweden due to the Dublin Regulation, an agreement between European Union countries that establishes a single country’s responsibility for examining an applicant’s request for asylum.

Human rights advocates contacted by VOA said that based on Qiao’s detention, Liu will likely face imprisonment if the Danish authorities deport her. Lin Shengliang, a Chinese activist based in the Netherlands and the founder of the China Human Rights Accountability Database, expressed concerns about Liu’s potential fate if she is sent back to China.

Liu has been an activist since 2014, initially helping forced eviction victims seek compensation through legal channels. She faced increased surveillance and harassment, with her son even being banned by teachers from participating in activities he enjoyed. This led Liu to move to Thailand, where her son could attend school in a safer environment.

In June 2019, Liu began documenting human rights violations for the Chinese news website Boxun, focusing on activism and human rights abuses in China. Despite facing increased scrutiny from Chinese prosecutors in Henan province, Liu returned to China twice in 2019 to renew her Thai visa without being arrested or detained.

In June 2022, fearing deportation back to China amid growing threats to Chinese dissidents in Thailand, Liu applied for a Danish tourist visa and traveled to Denmark with her son, seeking asylum upon arrival. Danish authorities began reviewing her asylum application in March 2023, during which time she also became involved in the online free speech campaign advocating for internet freedom in China.

Despite her activism and engagement in human rights issues, Danish authorities questioned whether Liu faced arrest upon returning to China, citing her previous legal trips between China and Thailand as evidence that she could leave the country freely. The Danish Refugee Appeals Board ultimately determined that Liu had not provided “credible evidence” to prove she faced persecution in China.

While Liu’s long history of criticizing the Chinese government and advocating for human rights is well-documented, some missing pieces of evidence made it challenging for her to prove the authenticity of her claims to Danish authorities. Human rights organizations, including Safeguard Defenders, are advocating for a reassessment of Liu’s case, emphasizing the importance of thorough documentation and evidence for Chinese dissidents seeking asylum abroad.

If Danish authorities proceed with deporting Liu to China, human rights organizations may consider filing an interim measure with the European Court of Human Rights to intervene in the decision. The uncertainty surrounding Liu’s situation and the potential consequences of deportation weigh heavily on her and her son as they navigate their legal status in Sweden.

As Liu awaits a reassessment of her asylum application by Danish authorities, the need for Chinese dissidents to be well-prepared and supported in their asylum claims becomes increasingly apparent. The complexities of navigating asylum processes in foreign countries underscore the challenges faced by individuals seeking refuge from persecution and human rights abuses.

In conclusion, the case of Liu Dongling highlights the struggles faced by Chinese dissidents seeking asylum abroad and the importance of comprehensive documentation and evidence to support their claims. As human rights organizations continue to advocate for Liu’s case to be reassessed, the fate of Liu and her son remains uncertain as they navigate the complexities of international asylum processes.