Student allegedly jailed in China for six years after taking part in pro-democracy protests in Australia

A Chinese international student who attended the University of Sydney has allegedly been sentenced to six years in prison in China for participating in pro-democracy protests in Australia. The student, who has not been named, reportedly lost contact with friends and potential employers after returning to China in December 2024. He was allegedly charged with secession for his involvement in Sydney protests, including those supporting China's ethnic minorities. Human Rights Watch suggests this arrest may be part of a broader effort by the Chinese government to suppress overseas activism, particularly targeting students who participated in protests following the 2022 "white paper" movement in China. The Australian government is facing calls to increase protections for Chinese students against political repression upon their return home.

Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts University student targeted by the Trump administration after co-writing a pro-Palestinian op-ed in March 2024, has completed her PhD and returned to Turkey. In March 2025, Öztürk was arrested by ICE agents and faced deportation proceedings after her visa was revoked based on accusations of antisemitism related to the op-ed, which called for Tufts to acknowledge a "genocide of Palestinians." Öztürk and the government reached a settlement earlier this month, reinstating her student status and allowing her return to Turkey without interference. Öztürk stated she is returning to continue her work in child study and human development, advocating for children and youth.

Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University, has returned to Turkiye after facing deportation proceedings in the U.S. under the Trump administration. Ozturk, who received her PhD in February 2026, was targeted after co-signing an opinion piece in her student newspaper advocating for Palestinian rights and accusing Israel of genocide. The Department of Homeland Security accused her of supporting Hamas, though no evidence was presented. Ozturk's arrest in March 2025, captured on video, sparked controversy. Citing "state-imposed violence and hostility," Ozturk, with the support of the ACLU, chose to leave the U.S. after a year-long legal battle.