Human Rights Lawyer Lu Siwei Faces Arbitrary Travel Restrictions and Medical Challenges

Lu Siwei, a prominent human rights lawyer, has been subject to arbitrary travel restrictions and medical challenges despite being released from prison in August 2025. The travel ban, imposed on Lu Siwei after his release from prison, has been widely criticized by international organizations, including the Law Society of England and Wales, The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe, Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada, Lawyers for Lawyers, Asian Lawyers Network, and International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute. The restrictions have prevented Lu Siwei from reuniting with his family in the US and accessing medical care for his early-stage lung cancer diagnosis.

Key Takeaways:

• Lu Siwei, a human rights lawyer, was released from prison in August 2025 but remains under strict surveillance and is subject to a travel ban, limiting his movement and preventing him from traveling to the US to reunite with his wife and daughter.
• The travel ban has serious consequences, including hindering Lu Siwei's access to medical care in the US and complicating his treatment options due to his inability to afford surgery, estimated to cost up to 60,000 RMB (approximately $8,200).
• Lu Siwei's arrest, trial, and imprisonment were widely criticized by international organizations, and his sentence was denounced as being contrary to international law.
• The Chinese authorities are urged to lift the travel ban imposed on Lu Siwei and to ensure that he can conduct his professional activities without fear of reprisals and free from undue interference.
• The international community has recognized the need to protect human rights lawyers and their families, as reflected in the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers and the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer.

Statistics:

• Lu Siwei's travel ban has been in place since his release from prison in August 2025
• The estimated cost of surgery for Lu Siwei's lung cancer treatment is up to 60,000 RMB (approximately $8,200)
• Lu Siwei's imprisonment led to the suspension of his medical insurance, leaving him unable to afford surgery
• Lu Siwei's wife and daughter live in the US, and he has been unable to reunite with them due to the travel ban

Sources:

• Lawyers for Lawyers
• The Law Society of England and Wales
• The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe
• Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada
• Asian Lawyers Network
• International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute