21 February 2008

Alert

Police step up surveillance of jailed human rights activist's family


Incident details

Hu Jia

human rights worker(s)

detained

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(RSF/IFEX) - After imprisoned human rights activist Hu Jia was formally charged on 29 January 2008, police stepped up surveillance of the home he shares with his wife in a Beijing apartment building. The police took over an apartment (No. 552) near the couple's apartment (No. 542) and three security cameras were installed in the grounds of the complex. Between four and eight policemen continue to be stationed permanently at the entrance of the building.

According to Radio Free Asia, Hu Jia received a visit from his lawyer Li Jinsong in prison on 4 February. The lawyer said Hu Jia showed no sign of being mistreated. His three cell-mates are non-political detainees.

Hu Jia's parents and his wife, Zeng Jinyan, were able to visit him on 10 February, but Zeng was not allowed to take their baby daughter. Several prison guards monitored the meeting. Zeng said Hu Jia appeared "tired and stressed." The prison has given him the medicine he needs.

Zeng has received permission to leave the apartment three times since the beginning of February. On two of these occasions, she took the baby to see a doctor. Each time she went out, neighbours said they saw policemen enter the apartment.

On 11 February, Zeng recovered several items previously confiscated by the police, including her mobile phone.

Sign the petition: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=25197



Source

Reporters Without Borders
47, rue Vivienne
75002 Paris
France
rsf (@) rsf.org
Phone: +33 1 44 83 84 84
Fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51
 

More on this case

Another birthday in prison for rights activist Hu Jia 28 July 2009 Jailed activist Hu Jia awarded Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought from European Parliament; his wife sends message of "hope for an open China" 22 December 2008 Human rights activist awarded freedom of thought prize, Human Rights Watch calls for his release 27 October 2008 Human Rights Watch calls for release of jailed rights activist, expresses concern for his health 1 October 2008 Health of imprisoned human rights activist deteriorating, IFJ and HKJA submit petition demanding his release 12 May 2008 Activist Hu Jia denied right to appeal prison sentence; wife concerned for his health 16 April 2008 Human rights activist Hu Jia sentenced to three and a half years in prison, one year's denial of political rights 3 April 2008 Hu Jia's trial "extremely troubling"; friends and colleagues reportedly detained to prevent their talking to media 20 March 2008 Another attack on Hu Jia's lawyer as authorities prepare for activist's trial 12 March 2008 Lawyer for detained human rights activist Hu Jia put under house arrest, foreign journalists prevented from visiting wife and daughter 11 January 2008 Health of detained writer Hu Jia deteriorating, his family subjected to harassment 10 January 2008 Outspoken activist Hu Jia arrested in Beijing 31 December 2007

China

Propaganda department issues new reporting ban 16 March 2010 Censorship and threats follow publication of joint editorial on internal passport system 11 March 2010 Writer prevented from travelling to German book festival, under house arrest 3 March 2010 New regulations announced as Internet censorship reaches unprecedented level 25 February 2010 IFJ demands immediate release of Liu Xiaobo 12 February 2010


 
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