Over 100 human rights groups have today called on the Chinese government to immediately release Mr. Hada, a long-persecuted Southern Mongolian dissident, who has disappeared after being hospitalized by Chinese authorities under suspicious circumstances. For 30 years, he has faced imprisonment, secret detention and ongoing persecution for advocating Southern Mongolian rights. Despite completing his sentence in 2010, he remains under extrajudicial detention. His wife and son have also suffered relentless harassment. The disappearance of Mr. Hada demands urgent international action. The following is the full statement along with the list of signatories:
URGENT ACTION: Call to Free Hada, Southern Mongolian Dissident
We urge the Chinese government to immediately release Mr. Hada, a prominent Southern Mongolian dissident and long-time political prisoner. He has disappeared since February 6, 2025 following his hospitalization by Chinese authorities for an alleged “urgent medical condition.” His current whereabouts and well-being remain unknown. This latest development is part of a 30-year long persecution by the Chinese government in response to his unwavering advocacy for the rights of the Southern Mongolian people.
30 Years of Imprisonment, Secret Detention and Disappearance
In 1995, Hada was arrested and later sentenced to 15 years in prison on charges of “separatism and espionage.” Upon completing his sentence in 2010, instead of being freed, he was subjected to an additional four years of extrajudicial detention and has been under secret detention ever since in a place tightly guarded by the Chinese Public Security authorities. His works, including Way Out of Southern Mongolia and the underground journal Voice of Southern Mongolia, lay out his ideas on Southern Mongolian rights.
Family Implication and Ongoing Persecution
Hada’s wife, Xinna, and son, Uiles, have also endured relentless persecution for over 30 years. Both have been repeatedly accused, harassed, and imprisoned on trumped-up charges due to their outspoken criticism of the Chinese government’s mistreatment of their family and its broader human rights abuses in Southern Mongolia.
International Recognition and Call for Urgent Action
In recognition of his lifelong struggle for justice, Hada was nominated for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize by four Japanese parliament members, as well as U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Congressman Chris Smith. His disappearance underscores the urgent need for international intervention. We call on human rights organizations, governments, and the global community to:
1. Demand immediate and unconditional disclosure of Hada’s whereabouts and well-being. 2. Pressure China to release Hada unconditionally and restore his family’s fundamental freedoms. 3. Hold the Chinese government accountable for its persecution and maltreatment of Hada and his family members over the past 30 years.
Join the Effort – Sign Your Name
We urge human rights organizations and defenders of freedom worldwide to join this urgent call for action by adding their names to this statement. By signing, you stand in solidarity with Hada and his family and reinforce the demand for justice, human rights and human dignity. To endorse this urgent action, kindly please add your organization's name below:
SIGNED BY:
Elbegdorj Tsakhyiagiin, President of World Mongol Federation and former President of Mongolia Maya Wang, Associate China Director, Human Rights Watch Erika Nguyen, Program Director, PEN America Hanno Schedler, Advisor, Society for Threatened Peoples Merce Monje Cano, Executive Director, Unrepresented Nations, and Peoples Organization Zumretay Arkin, Vice President, World Uyghur Congress Ivy Li, Spokesperson, Canadian Friends of Hong Kong Human Rights In China, Director, Zhou Fengsuo Dr. Yang Jianli, President, Citizen Power Initiatives for China Dr. Sanj Altan, President, Mongol American Cultural Association Dr. Chuluu Ujiyediin, President, Chinggis Khan Memorial Foundation Mandie McKeown, Executive Director, International Tibet Network Aurora Chang, East Asian Regional Coordinator, International Tibet Network Hidetoshi Ishii, President, Indo-Pacific Human Rights Information Center Enghebatu Togochog, Director, Southern Mongolian Human Rights Information CenterAnd the following rights groups:
“ Mini Nutag” ( Political Yearbook ) |
Alberta Uyghur Association |
ARTICLE 19 |
Ashavan Organization |
Asia Freedom Institute |
Australian Uyghur Tangritagh Women's Association |
Buryaad Mongol United Association |
Campaign For Uyghurs |
Canadian Friends of hong Kong |
Centre for Human Rights and Development |
China Against the Death Penalty |
Chinggis Khan Memorial Foundation |
Christian Solidarity Worldwide |
Citizen Congress Watch |
Citizen Power Initiatives for China |
Congress of Buryat-Mongol People |
Doublethink Lab |
Free Mongols |
Free Tibet |
Free Tibet Fukuoka |
Free Tibet Italia |
Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities |
Grupo de Apoio ao Tibete-Portugal |
Hazara Community of Washington |
Hazara Organization for Peace and Equality (HOPE) |
Human Rights Foundation |
Human Rights in China |
Human Rights Watch |
Indo-Pacific Human Rights Information Center |
Inner Mongolian People’s Party (Headquarter) |
Inner Mongolian People's Party Branch Europe |
Inner Mongolian People's Party Branch Japan |
Inner Mongolian People's Party Branch Mongolia |
Inner Mongolian People's Party Branch USA |
InterMongol Network |
International Defenders Council |
International Institute for Buddhist & Kalmyk Studies |
International Society for Human Rights |
International Society for Human Rights - Sweden |
International Tibet Network |
IPK Media (Shining Light Media) |
Japan Uyghur Association |
Kalmyk Project |
Law and Society Alliance (India) |
MAEC |
Mongol American Cultural Association |
Mongol Heritage Foundation |
No Business With Genocide |
Nutug Chuulgan |
Objectif Tibet |
Particulier |
PEN America |
Regional Tibetan Women's Association |
Regional Tibetan Youth Congress |
Save the Mongolian Language Movement |
Save Mongolian Language NGO |
SISAT |
Society for Threatened Peoples |
Southern Mongolia Support Group |
Southern Mongolia TV |
Southern Mongolian Community Florida |
Southern Mongolian Community Bay Area |
Southern Mongolian Community Canada |
Southern Mongolian Community Chicago |
Southern Mongolian Community DC Area |
Southern Mongolian Community France |
Southern Mongolian Community Tri-State Area |
Southern Mongolian Community U.K. |
Southern Mongolian Herders' Rights Defense Group |
Southern Mongolian Human Rights Defense League |
Southern Mongolian Human Rights Information Center (SMHRIC) |
Southern Mongolian Rescue Committee |
Southern Mongolian Rights Defenders |
Students for a Free Tibet U.K. Chapter |
Students for a Free Tibet International |
Students for a Free Tibet U.S. Chapter |
Students for Falun Gong |
Swedish Uyghur Union |
Swiss Tibetan Friendship Association |
Swiss Uyghur Association |
Taiwanese Civil Aid to HKers, TAHK |
The Artist Oliver James |
The Congress of the Oirat-Kalmyk People |
The Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders |
Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy |
Tibetan Youth Congress |
Tusgaar Buryad Mongolia |
U.S. Tibet Committee |
Unrepresented Peoples and Nations Organisation |
Uyghur Center for Democracy and Human Rights |
Uyghur Human Rights Project |
Uyghur PEN Centre |
Voice of Southern Mongolia |
World Hazara Council |
World Mongol Federation Chapter Europe |
World Mongol Federation Chapter Japan |
World Mongol Federation Chapter Mongolia |
World Mongol Federation Chapter USA |
World Mongol Federation Global NGO |
World Uyghur Congress |
World Uyghur Congress Foundation |
Yibao (Newspaper/Online Publication) |
Zerd Band |
Конгресс Ойрат-калмыцкого народа |
世界モンゴル人連盟 |
CONTACTS:
Enghebatu Togochog, Southern
Mongolian Human Rights
Information Center:
enghebatu@smhric.org
Hidetoshi Ishii,
Indo-Pacific Human Rights
Information Center:
npodga@gmail.com
Aurora Chang, International
Tibet Network:
aurora@tibetnetwork.org