Zhan Gao's Clemency Case

Location: Herndon, Virginia

Sentence: 7 months

Supporters: 40

Case Summary

Zhan is a China scholar and democracy activist. Thirty years ago, she founded an organization dedicated to advancing women’s rights in China. To help support its work, she responded to a friend’s request to ship an obsolete computer chip to China, unaware that doing so required an export license. She accepted responsibility for her mistake, served a seven-month prison sentence, endured more than three years of additional detention, and fulfilled every obligation imposed by the U.S. government. After being wrongfully detained by Beijing and freed with the assistance of the U.S. government, Zhan chose a life of service. She devoted herself to researching China’s path toward democracy, practicing her Christian faith, and serving her community. Zhan and her husband have raised three proud American children, two of whom now serve in the U.S. military—a reflection of Zhan’s profound gratitude and enduring commitment to the nation that rescued and protected her.

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