Category Archives: RAN About Chinese

China: PEN renews its calls to release all writers, journalists and publishers

pen-digital-freedom-logo7 December 2016

RAN 24/16

 

 

Ahead of World Human Rights Day, PEN International reiterates its calls on the Chinese authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all writers, journalists, bloggers and publishers held for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of opinion, expression and association. The number of detained and imprisoned writers in China is among the highest in the world. PEN also calls on the authorities to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights without further delay. Continue reading

China: Continued harassment of veteran journalist Gao Yu (f); health concerns

12 April 2016

Update #4 to RAN 09/14

Gao-YuPEN International is deeply concerned for the health of veteran journalist Gao Yu following reports that she was hospitalised after the Beijing Municipal Bureau of City Administration and Law Enforcement identified her garden for destruction on 31 March 2016. Gao Yu remains in hospital; her condition has now stabilised. PEN International calls on the Chinese authorities to stop harassing Gao Yu and to approve her application to be granted leave to travel to Germany for medical treatment. Continue reading

China: Conviction of veteran journalist Gao Yu upheld on appeal

26 November 2015                                                                                         

Update #3 to RAN 09/14

Gao-YuPEN International is deeply disappointed by the Beijing high court’s decision of 26 November 2015 not to overturn veteran journalist Gao Yu’s conviction for ‘leaking state secrets abroad’. Following a closed hearing held on 24 November, the court ruled to reduce her sentence to five years. PEN continues to condemn her conviction and sentence, and calls for her immediate and unconditional release. Nonetheless, PEN welcomes reports that Gao Yu is due to serve the remainder of her sentence under house arrest due to concerns for her deteriorating health and strongly urges the Chinese authorities to ensure that Gao Yu is afforded adequate medical care. Continue reading

China: PEN renews calls for release of poet Liu Xiaobo and wife Liu Xia

8 December 2014

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PEN is calling for immediate and unconditional release of Liu Xiaobo and wife, Liu Xia.

8 December 2014 marks the sixth anniversary of the arrest of Chinese poet and human rights defender Liu Xiaobo, who is serving an 11-year prison sentence for his dissident writings and peaceful activism. Liu Xiaobo was imprisoned for “inciting subversion of state power” for his part as the leading author behind “Charter ‘08”, a manifesto calling for protection of universal human rights and democratic reform in China. Continue reading

Take Action for Uyghur writer and PEN member Ilham Tohti

PEN International is seriously concerned for the well-being of Uyghur writer, academic and Uyghur PEN member, Ilham Tohti, who was formally charged with “splittism” on 20 February 2014, amid a crackdown on Chinese Uyghurs critical of the government. His wife received formal notification of the charges on 25 February. Dozens of writers have joined American PEN in calling for his release. Continue reading

CHINA: Veteran journalist Gao Yu (f) charged with ‘leaking state secrets abroad’; fears for safety.

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RAPID ACTION NETWORK

9 May 2014

RAN 09/14

CHINA: Veteran journalist Gao Yu (f) charged with ‘leaking state secrets abroad’; fears for safety.

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Veteran journalist Gao Yu went missing on 24 April 2014 and there was no information concerning her fate until 8 May 2014 when the official Chinese news agency Xinhua confirmed that Gao Yu is being detained by Beijing police on the charge of ‘leaking state secrets abroad’. She is accused of leaking a secret document to editors of a foreign website in August 2013. Footage of her ‘confessing’, feared to have been taken under duress, was shown on state television. Her whereabouts remain unknown, and there are serious concerns for her well-being and integrity.

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CHINA: Publisher Yao Wentian (aka Yiu Mantin) sentenced to 10 years in prison.

CHINA: Publisher Yao Wentian (aka Yiu Mantin) sentenced to 10 years in prison.


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RAPID ACTION NETWORK
12 May 2014

Update #1 to RAN 02/14

CHINA: Publisher Yao Wentian (aka Yiu Mantin) sentenced to 10 years in prison.

PEN International is shocked by the heavy sentencing of Hong-based publisher Yao Wentian on 7 May 2014. Yao, who has been held in Shenzhen since 27 October 2013, was convicted by the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court on the charge of ‘smuggling prohibited items’ and sentenced to a 10-year jail term. At the time of his arrest he was preparing to publish a book by US-based yao_wentian_detained_sondissident writer Yu Jie, entitled Chinese Godfather Xi Jinping. PEN believes the trial and conviction to bepolitically motivated. Yao suffers from asthma and a heart complaint and there are serious concerns for his health.
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CHINA: Another writer handed down a lengthy prison term

RAPID ACTION NETWORK
6 January 2012
RAN 01/12

CHINA: Another writer handed down a lengthy prison term

The Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of PEN International is dismayed at the conviction of another Chinese writer on subversion charges. Dissident writer Chen Xi was sentenced to ten years in prison on 26 December 2011 for ‘inciting subversion of state power’ in essays published online on overseas websites. Continue reading