Throughout her entire sentence, Lai Ke was imprisoned in a medical facility and denied access to vital medications.
According to Sarah Brooks, “Time is of the essence to stop Lai Ke from being unjustly deported to mainland China.”
Chinese transgender activist Lai Ke (also known as Xiran), who is serving a prison sentence in Hong Kong, faces a serious threat of persecution if she is deported to mainland China, according to Amnesty International.
According to the human rights organization, Lai Ke must either be permitted to reside in Hong Kong or to go elsewhere.
She was found guilty last year in Hong Kong of trying to go from China to Canada using “forged” records. After finishing her sentence, Lai faces imminent removal to mainland China when she is released tomorrow (2 March), according to friends who claim she has previously experienced harassment from Chinese police.
Along with her companion, who, according to companions, was imprisoned in next June as a result of her own engagement and transgender identity, Lai had been a vocal advocate for trans rights in China.
She was sentenced to 15 months in prison at Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre, a medical detention facility where the Hong Kong government typically houses transgender prisoners, on June 16, next year. Her initial consultation with her attorney did not occur until July 20, 2018, more than a fortnight after her trial and conviction.
As part of her hormone replacement therapy, Lai has been held in solitary confinement after complaining about the neglect of her treatment while serving her word. In accordance with Section 19 of the Hong Kong Immigration Ordinance, Lai is liable to be deported to mainland China because she is not a resident of Hong Kong.
Amnesty International’s China Director, Sarah Brooks, stated:
“Owing to both her trans identity and activism, Time is of the essence to stop Lai Ke from being fraudulently deported to mainland China, where she would be at risk of serious human rights violations, including arbitrary detention, cruel trial, torture, and other ill-treatment,” she said.
“The Hong Kong government must immediately clarify Lai Ke’s pending immigration status.
The authorities must release her without conditions and assist her to continue to a location she is willing to travel to once she has served her sentence.
China’s assault on LGBTQ+ people
Amnesty International has documented China’s ongoing oppression and discrimination against trans individuals. Large-scale censorship has recently resulted in the closing of many lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex organizations and social media accounts, undermining LGBTQ+ activism both online and offline. In China, authorities have repeatedly detained, arrested, and imprisoned LGBTQ+ activists on unfair, broadly defined, and vaguely drafted charges.
