China
For more information on English PEN's Honorary Members in China, please click on the purple navigator on the left hand side.
CHINA: ARTIST AI WEIWEI FACES ENORMOUS FINES
30 June 2011
On 28 June 2011, it was reported that Ai Weiwei, the
internationally acclaimed artist who had been freed on bail a week
earlier, had been visited by government tax officials with a demand for
over 12 m yuan (c. 1.3 m Euro) in unpaid taxes and fines. Ai's
supporters in China and abroad believe that these heavy fines have been
levied in retaliation for his criticism of the government. Ai Weiwei had
been arrested in early April 2011 on for unspecified "economic crimes".
PEN continues to monitor Ai Weiwei's case, and has serious concerns
about the continuing restrictions on his right to communicate with
others. We also remain alarmed about the overall dire state of freedom
of expression in China. For more information, please click here.
CHINA: PROMINENT ARTIST AND CRITIC AI WEIWEI DETAINED; FEARS FOR SAFETY
11 April 2011
English PEN is seriously concerned for the welfare of internationally renowned artist and prominent government critic Ai Weiwei
following his arrest at Beijing airport on 3 April 2011. We call for
his immediate and unconditional release and that of all those currently
detained in China for the peaceful expression of their views. We seek
urgent guarantees of the safety of Ai Weiwei and demands that he is
given full access to his family and legal representation immediately. For more information, please click here.
CHINA: DISSIDENT WRITER LIU XIANBIN SENTENCED
6 April 2011
English PEN protests the ten year sentence handed down to dissident writer and activist Liu Xianbin
on 25 March 2011 for 'inciting subversion of state power' in a series
of articles calling for political reform. The trial reportedly did not
comply with international standards of fairness. We remind the Chinese
authorities of their obligations to uphold the right to freedom of
expression, freedom of information and freedom of assembly as guaranteed
by Article 35 of the Chinese constitution and Article 19 of the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which it is a
state party, and call for the immediate and unconditional release of all
those detained for the peaceful expression of their views, including
Liu Xianbin. We are also seeking urgent guarantees of the safety of
those held without due process. For more information, please click here.
CHINA: RENEWED CRACKDOWN ON DISSIDENTS AND ACTIVISTS; FEARS FOR SAFETY
English PEN is alarmed at reports of a violent crackdown on government
critics and human rights defenders in recent days in response to
increased fears of social unrest. Over one hundred human rights
defenders and activists have reportedly been harassed, intimidated or
detained and a number of foreign journalists assaulted in a targeted
campaign to suppress dissent. Members of the Independent Chinese PEN
Centre (ICPC) are amongst those targeted. English PEN reminds the
Chinese authorities of their obligations to uphold the right to freedom
of expression, freedom of information and freedom of assembly as
guaranteed by Article 35 of the Chinese constitution and Article 19 of
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which it is
a state party. We call for the immediate and unconditional release of
all those detained for the peaceful expression of their views, and seek
urgent guarantees of the safety of those held without due process. For more information, please click here.
CHINA: CALL FOR ACTION FOR IMPRISONED NOBEL LAUREATE LIU XIAOBO
On 10 December 2010 our colleague Liu Xiaobo, former president of
the Independent Chinese PEN Centre (ICPC), will be awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize in Oslo. The awarding of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize to Liu
Xiaobo is both a cause for celebration and a call to action. It is a
reminder that he and more than 40 other writers remain in prison in
China; three of them, like Liu, are also PEN members. For more information, please click here.
CHINA: UYGHUR JOURNALIST AND EDITOR SENTENCED
English PEN is appalled by the fifteen-year prison sentence handed down to Uyghur journalist and editor Hailaite Niyazi (aka Hairat or Gheyret Niyaz)
on 23 July 2010. Niyazi, who was arrested in October 2009, was
convicted on state security charges for his reporting on the July 2009
riots in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Republic
(XUAR). English PEN calls for his immediate and unconditional release in
accordance with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, to which China is a signatory. For more information, please click here.
CHINA: TIBETAN WRITER TAGYAL DETAINED
English PEN is seriously concerned about the arrest on 23 April 2010 of Tibetan writer Tagyal (pen-name Shogdung)
after criticising the authorities in an open letter. English PEN fears
that Tagyal may be held solely for peacefully exercising his right to
free expression which is protected under Article 19 of the United
Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to
which China is a signatory. If so, PEN calls for his immediate and
unconditional release. For more information, please click here.
CHINA: DISSIDENT WRITER'S HEALTH DECLINING
English PEN is seriously concerned about the deteriorating health of imprisoned activist and dissident writer Hu Jia,
who was hospitalised for tests in late March 2010. Requests for medical
parole have been denied. Hu Jia is serving a three-and-a-half year
sentence for 'inciting subversion of state power' for his critical
writings and dissident activities. For more information, please click here.
CHINA: PROMINENT DISSIDENT WRITER LIU XIAOBO'S APPEAL REJECTED
English PEN continues to call on our members to take action on behalf of Liu Xiaobo
and others detained in China. Liu Xiaobo, former President and Board
member of Independent Chinese PEN Centre, was sentenced to eleven years
in prison on 25 December 2009. He was convicted of 'incitement to
subversion' for his role in publishing Charter 08, a document calling
for political reform and human rights, and articles published online
since 2005. For more information, please click here.
CHINA: LIU XIAOBO SENTENCED TO 11 YEARS
5 January 2010
English PEN is calling on all members to take action on behalf of Liu Xiaobo and others detained in China. Liu
Xiaobo, former President and Board member of Independent Chinese PEN
Centre, was sentenced to eleven years in prison on 25 December 2009. He
was convicted of 'incitement to subversion' for his role in publishing
Charter 08, a document calling for political reform and human rights,
and articles published online since 2005. For more information, please click here.