The Chinese Communist Party’s campaign to silence dissidents continues in full swing. The latest victim is artist and business owner Geng Xiaonan, who is a friend of citizen journalist Chen Qiushi and Chinese legal scholar Xu Zhangrun.

Geng and her husband have been missing since Sep. 9 and are presumably detained by Chinese authorities.

Geng is missing, Xu told Voice of America. The outspoken critic of the CCP who was recently released from detention suspected that she has been detained by authorities and friends have trouble reaching her through her two phone numbers.

Geng, the former CEO of Chinese film company Heaven Pictures and editor-in-chief of publisher Ruiya Book, is a prominent figure in the Chinese art, film and publishing industry.

Cai Xia, a high-ranking member of the CCP who was recently expelled for her fierce criticism of the authorities, tweeted that both Geng and her husband have gone missing. “Beijing is investigating their publishing company in the name of financial reasons. Their bank accounts were suspended and some staffers were also taken away.”

“Geng has been a good friend of mine for many years. She is known for her kindness and chivalry. She has diligently cared for other dissidents,” Cai tweeted, naming figures who face persecution for their political views such as Bao Tong, Du Guang, Yao Jianfu and Yang Jisheng.

Xu also called for attention and support for the couple. “Over the years, Geng has spoken out for justice and for those who were politically persecuted. Now that she becomes a victim, it is our turn to speak up for her,” wrote Xu.

Geng was the first to break the news of Xu’s arrest to foreign media outlets back in July and rallied for support. Xu was released after a week and subsequently fired by Tsinghua University. Geng has also drawn attention to the disappearance of citizen journalist Chen Qiushi, who was reporting on the coronavirus pandemic in Wuhan.

Chen is still missing to date.

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