China: Release writers Gao Yu and Ilham Tohti

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Gao-Yu-Ilham1(London, 21 November, 2014) – Chinese authorities should immediately and unconditionally release veteran journalist Gao Yu and writer and academic Ilham Tohti, a member of China’s Uyghur minority, PEN International said today.

‘Today we stand with our colleagues Gao Yu and Ilham Tohti, who are facing life behind bars for simply exercising their right to freedom of expression.’ said Marian Botsford Fraser, Chair of PEN’s Writers in Prison Committee. ‘The nature of their charges, the reports of torture and other ill-treatment and the flaws in the legal process are symptomatic of a wider disregard for human rights in the country. We call on China to release both writers immediately and unconditionally.’

Gao Yu, 70, a highly respected journalist, was detained by Beijing police in April 2014 and accused of ‘leaking state secrets abroad’. Footage of her confession, feared to have been taken under duress, was shown on state television, heightening concerns for her well-being and her chance of a fair trial. Yu later retracted her confession in court, saying that she made the confession whilst under extreme preassure, fearing the arrest of her son. Today, she stood trial in a closed court in Beijing and could be facing a life sentence. A verdict has yet to be announced.

In a separate case, in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, a Chinese court upheld a life sentence handed down to prominent writer and academic Ilham Tohti, 45, convicted of ‘splittism’. Tohti, a member of the Uyghur minority in China, who has been a target of frequent harassment by Chinese authorities for his outspoken views on Uyghur rights, was arrested in January 2014. Reportedly held in shackles for 20 days and deprived of food for at least 10 days at the start of his detention, he was formally charged with ‘splittism’ on 20 February 2013 amid a crackdown on Chinese Uyghurs who are critical of the government. Convicted in September 2014 after an unfair trial in which he was denied adequate legal representation, Tohti’s appeal against his conviction and sentence was rejected today.

‘The draconian sentence given to Ilham Tohiti is a travesty of justice. PEN International and its global membership will continue to raise their voices in protest against this extremely harsh sentence until he is freed.’ Marian Botsford Fraser.