Reporters Without Borders (RSF) urges the Chinese regime to immediately release photojournalist Du Bin. Harassed for more than a decade for his investigations into state-led human rights abuses, he has now been detained again for over 40 days and faces up to five years in prison.

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Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has just received confirmation from local sources that Chinese journalist and photojournalist Du Bin has been held by the authorities at the Shunyi Detention Centre in Beijing since 15 October 2025. The former New York Times photographer is accused of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”, an offence punishable by five years in prison and routinely used by the Chinese regime to suppress journalists and press freedom defenders.

The photojournalist’s family has repeatedly requested to see the written detention order, but the authorities have refused to provide one. The officer in charge of the case has also declined to give further information, citing confidentiality. Through his photos, books and documentary films, Du Bin has extensively documented human rights abuses committed by the Chinese regime. His work has been published in major international media outlets, including The New York Times, Time magazine and The Guardian.

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