Chinese Filmmaker Sentenced for Protest Documentary

Chinese filmmaker Chen Pinlin, known as 'Plato', has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison for his documentary on the 2022 protests against COVID-19 lockdowns, which occurred during the White Paper Movement. After being detained in late 2023, he faced charges of 'picking quarrels and provoking trouble', a common accusation used by the Chinese government to suppress dissent. The protests, sparked by a deadly fire in Urumqi, highlighted widespread public anger towards the government's strict pandemic measures, marking the largest public dissent in decades. The documentary's release coincided with the one-year anniversary of these protests, which were characterized by demonstrators holding blank sheets of paper to symbolize censorship. The trial was held behind closed doors, reflecting ongoing efforts by the government to erase public memory of these events. Reports indicate that Chen has faced inhumane treatment during his detention, further raising concerns about human rights in China.