Gao Zhen, a Chinese artist known for provocative sculptures of Mao Zedong, has been sentenced to three years in prison in China after being convicted of slandering the country's "heroes and martyrs". The verdict, handed down two years after his detention, has drawn international condemnation because the artworks in question were created more than a decade before the relevant law came into force, raising concerns about retroactive prosecution and the suppression of independent artistic expression.

Gao, 70, a Chinese citizen and US permanent resident, was detained on 26 August 2024 while visiting China with his wife and son, and his studio near Beijing was later raided. His works with brother Gao Qiang include a sculpture of Mao kneeling and another depicting a firing squad of Mao statues aiming at Jesus. His wife, Zhao Yaliang, said the family had endured a painful two-year wait, while Gao suffered health problems including heatstroke and fainting spells in detention. Human rights groups including Amnesty International condemned the sentencing, with campaigners saying it was designed to deter independent artistic expression, and noting that Gao's wife and young son, a US citizen, remain unable to leave China.