Category Archives: ICPC

ICPC Statement on PEN International Day of Imprisoned Writers–Two Writers Honoured the Liu Xiaobo Courage to Write Award

The Independent Chinese PEN Center (ICPC) has honoured two imprisoned writers, HU Shigen and Mahvash SABET (f, Iran) the ICPC’s 2016 Liu Xiaobo Courage to Write Award for their courage and perseverance in writing and fighting for freedom of experission and other basic rights despite the long-term imprisonment. In addition, ICPC have named six writers as new honorary members, including ZHANG Haitao, Shokjang (Tibetan), LU Yuyu, HUANG Wenxun, LI Tingyu (f) and WANG Yuping. Continue reading

No 17. Yu Zhang: Case 36 (1982): Qin Yongmin, Sentenced for Uniting Magazines

 From Wang Shiwei to Liu Xiaobo: Prisoners of Literary Inquisition under Communist Rule in China

Qin YongminQin Yongmin (August 11, 1953 – ), a worker, social activist and editor of independent magzines, was taken into custody for his involvement in Wuhan’s Democracy Wall Movement and for uniting magazines throughout China. In 1982, he was sentenced to eight years imprisonment for “counter-revolutionary propaganda and incitement”. Continue reading

Plainclothes Police Destroy Gao Yu’s Garden and Beat Up Her Son

Gao Yu

Gao Yu talks to reporters in her Beijing home after plainclothes police ransacked her garden and beat her son, March 31, 2016.

Plainclothes police raided the Beijing home of veteran Chinese journalist Gao Yu on Thursday, sending the 72-year-old heart patient to the hospital while roughing up and detaining her son and destroying her garden in what supporters said was a bid to intimidate her. Continue reading

China Denies Gao Yu Permission to Leave For Germany

Gao Yu-Hong Kong

Demonstrators hold placards showing portraits of Chinese journalist Gao Yu during a protest in support of her outside the China liaison office in Hong Kong, April 17, 2015.

Authorities in the Chinese capital have effectively denied permission to veteran journalist Gao Yu to go to Germany for medical treatment, even though she is being allowed to serve her sentence outside of jail. Continue reading

ICPC Statement on PEN International Day of Imprisoned Writers

For Press Release
15 November 2014

Chen Shuqing Honored the Liu Xiaobo Courage to Write Award and 17 Writers Adopted as Honorary Members

Chen ShuqingThe Independent Chinese PEN Centre (ICPC) has honoured Mr. CHEN Shuqinqing, its member and an imprisoned writer in China, this year’s Liu Xiaobo Courage to Write Award for his long-term tenacity and courage in writing despite the threat of imprisonment. In addition, ICPC have adopted seventeen of writers imprisoned in China as its new honorary members, including WANG Bingzhang, GARTSE Jigme, WO Zhongxiao, WANG Jianmin, SHEN Yongping, TANG Jingling, WANG Qingying, YUAN Chaoyang, XU Zhiqiang, HUANG Zerong, GUO Yushan, KOU Yanding, HUANG Kaiping, ZHANG Miao, CHEN Kun, CHEN Yongzhou and JIANG Lijun.

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174 Writers in Prison in China

Writers in Prison Committee

Independent Chinese PEN Center

August 2014

Writers and Journalists in Prison in China (recorded since 2004)

No.Name of WiP Sentence in Jail Remarks

1 KONG Youping 10 Years (15 y) 10 y Released

2 HUANG Jinqiu 8 y 1 m (12 y) 8 y 1 m Reduced

3 DU Daobin 3 Years 3 y + 1 m Released on bail

4 OUYANG Yi 2 Years 2 y Released Continue reading

ICPC Statement on the Detention of Its Member Li Jianhong for Returning to China

For Press Release

Li JianhongThe Independent Chinese PEN Center (ICPC) is outraged to learn that its member Miss Li Jianhong (aka Xiao Qiao) was taken into custody by the police from her home in Shanghai, China, in the afternoon of 12 February 2014, since when she has been held incommunicado in an unknown location. ICPC fears that Miss Li has been unjustly detained and mistreated for her returning to China as well as for her words and deeds abroad, and therefore strongly demands the Chinese authorities to restore her personal freedom, and ensure all of her legal rights. Continue reading

ICPC Statement on Criminal Detention of Uyghur PEN Member Ilham Tohti

(January 30th, 2014)

Ilham TohtiIndependent Chinese PEN Center is seriously concerned about the reports of criminal detention of Ilham Tohti, a member of Uyghur PEN and associate professor of economics at the Central University for Nationalities in Beijing, and fears that he has been retaliated for his criticizing remarks. ICPC calls on the government to restitute as soon as possible his personal freedom, freedom of expression and other basic rights, and release all of those imprisoned for their words, including ICPC former and honorary president Dr. Liu Xiaobo. Continue reading