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UPDATE CHINA: 42 Writers and Journalists Remain In Prison
September 18, 2008
There are currently 42 writers and journalists in prison in China, all detained for their writings and peaceful activism towards improvements in civil and political rights in China.
These imprisonments are counter to the international human rights standards to which China is a signatory, notably the International Convention on Human Rights, specifically Article 19 that protects the rights to freedom of expression. Freedom to Write remains particularly concerned that there has been no apparent easing of restrictions, on free expression, in recent months.
Story Continued...
This year we have learned that:
*Democracy activist and dissident writer Hu Shigen was released on 26 August after sixteen years and three months in prison. He was sentenced to twenty years in prison in 1992 for ‘organizing and leading counter-revolutionary groups and counter-revolutionary propaganda and incitement’ for his pro-democracy activities. Hu Shigen’s sentence has been reduced several times in prison, most recently in May 2008. He is in poor health after many years of ill-treatment in jail.
*Activist Zeng Jinyan (f) was allowed to return to Beijing with her baby daughter on 23 August, after being detained on 7 August and held in Dalian, outside the capital, for the duration of the Games. She remains under residential surveillance at her Beijing home. Her husband Hu Jia, who is serving a three-and-a-half year sentence for ‘inciting subversion of state power’ for his critical writings and dissident activities, is said to be forced to do hard labour in spite of his poor and deteriorating health.
*Tibetan writer Woeser (f) was reportedly arrested and held for eight hours on 21 August for allegedly taking photographs of military installations whilst visiting family in her home city of Lhasa, the capital of Tibet Autonomous Region. She and her husband had planned a month-long visit, but decided to return to Beijing after just six days. She is banned from publishing in China and remains under heavy restriction and surveillance.
Thank you for continuously supporting Freedom To Write. These releases are proof that your good work matters.
There is work to be done though. There are currently 42 writers and journalists in prison in China, all detained for their writings and peaceful activism towards improvements in civil and political rights in China. These imprisonments are counter to the international human rights standards to which China is a signatory, notably the International Convention on Human Rights, specifically Article 19 that protects the rights to freedom of expression. Freedom to Write remains particularly concerned that there has been no apparent easing of restrictions, on free expression, in recent months.
A new RAN will be posted next week. Stay involved!