BEIJING: At least two Chinese women who joined historic “white paper” demonstrations in Beijing calling for an end to COVID-19 curbs were released on Wednesday (Apr 19) after almost four months in detention, two of their friends told Reuters.
The protests, unprecedented in President Xi Jinping’s decade in power, began in late November in cities across China. They were suppressed by police within days but helped hasten the end of three years of tough COVID-19 restrictions, sources have previously told Reuters.
Immediately following the protests, in which hundreds took to the streets across the country, many holding up blank sheets of paper as a symbol of their discontent, police interrogated and detained dozens of participants, according to rights groups, lawyers and friends of those individuals.
Many were only held for 24 hours or less, or were released after a few weeks.
Cao Zhixin, a 26-year-old book editor, and Zhai Dengrui, a 27-year-old teacher, were released on Wednesday, according to two friends of the individuals.
Reuters could not immediately reach the pair for comment or establish why they were released.