In Memory of Liu Xiaobo: A Call for Freedom and Conscience on the 8th Anniversary of His Passing

July 13, 2025, marks the eighth anniversary of the death of Liu Xiaobo. Eight years ago today, this Nobel Peace Prize laureate, a steadfast advocate for nonviolence and constitutional democracy, died of liver cancer while imprisoned, never having regained his freedom—even in his final moments.

Liu Xiaobo’s life was a testament to the enduring spirit of a free intellectual, devoted to conscience, justice, and the future of his country. His presence in Tiananmen Square in 1989 made him one of the clearest and most principled voices of the pro-democracy movement. He once declared, “I have no enemies, no hatred.” These words, spoken amid suffering, embody a moral courage and commitment to peace that continues to inspire the world and light a path for those still waiting in the dark.

In 2008, he co-authored and launched Charter 08, a manifesto calling for constitutional democracy, human rights protections, and freedom of speech in China. Though the document was peaceful, rational, and open in tone, the response from the state was swift and severe: Liu was sentenced to a lengthy prison term. In 2010, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his unwavering commitment to peaceful political reform. But the Chinese government barred both him and his family from attending the ceremony. He became the only Nobel laureate in history to die in custody without ever having received the prize in person.

His death is a profound sorrow for our time—and a mirror held up to our age. A nation that treats free thought and principled dissent as threats reveals the fragility behind its claim to strength.

To remember Liu Xiaobo is not only to honor a courageous individual, but to renew our call for a courageous spirit. Today, when public space remains constrained, when speech is still stifled, and when conscience is treated as a political risk, we must remember this: Power is not the soul of a nation—freedom is. Silence is no guarantee of stability—truth is.

Let us not shield our eyes with indifference, nor excuse injustice in the name of “reality.” Let us encourage a new generation—especially the youth—to rediscover Charter 08, and to understand what it means to be a responsible and engaged citizen.

Liu Xiaobo once said, “Freedom of expression is the foundation of human rights, the source of humanity, and the mother of truth.” Today, let us honor him by speaking out, and carry forward the ideals he gave his life for.

To Liu Xiaobo, and to the soul of freedom—our lasting respect.