United Nations experts have formally ruled that Swedish publisher Gui Minhai is being arbitrarily detained in China and must be released. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention adopted its opinion in August 2025 and made it public on 10 December 2025.
The Working Group found that Gui Minhai’s case meets the definition of arbitrary detention under three separate categories. It criticised his disappearance from Thailand, the lack of legal basis for his early detention, and serious fair-trial violations in his 2020 conviction.
In a key new step, the UN body called on China to immediately free Gui Minhai, grant him an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations, and ensure an independent investigation into how his rights were violated. China has been asked to report back within six months on any release, compensation or inquiry.
Reporters Without Borders (RFS) and Gui’s daughter Angela Gui welcomed the decision as long-awaited international recognition of the abuses in his case. They are urging Sweden, the European Union and other governments to use the UN ruling to increase pressure on Beijing to secure Gui Minhai’s release.
