PEN is increasingly deeply concerned for the health and well-being of poet, artist and founding member of the Independent Chinese PEN Centre, Liu Xia.
Liu Xia has been held under unofficial house arrest in her Beijing apartment since her late husband, poet Liu Xiaobo, was named the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2010. A recent telephone call made public by a friend on ChinaChange.org raises concerns for her mental health.
For seven years, Liu Xia was held in her apartment without access to phones, internet, doctors of her choice, or visitors. Following the death of her husband in July 2017 and expressions of concern for her wellbeing, Xia appeared in a video in which she asked to be left alone to mourn – it is thought that she may have done this at the behest of the authorities.
The Independent Chinese PEN Centre (ICPC) reports that the restrictions applied against Liu Xia have relaxed somewhat; she has access to a telephone and is allowed to leave her home, but is under constant surveillance.
On 2 May 2018, China Change published an article written by Liu Xia’s long-time friend Liao Yiwu, which raises concerns that her mental health may be deteriorating. Liao Yiwu quotes Liu Xia as saying:
Now, I’ve got nothing to be afraid of. If I can’t leave, I’ll die in my home. Xiaobo is gone, and there’s nothing in the world for me now. It’s easier to die than live. Using death to defy could not be any simpler for me.
PEN believes that the ongoing, extra-judicial house arrest of Liu Xia is a form of punishment for the human rights work carried out by her late husband, Liu Xiaobo, and is extremely concerned for her physical and psychological integrity. We are calling on the Chinese authorities to lift all remaining restrictions placed upon Liu Xia immediately and unconditionally, and to allow her to leave the country, should she so wish.
TAKE ACTION
Spread the word
Share details of Liu Xia’s plight with friends and colleagues and on social media. #FreeLiuXia
Read and share Liu Xia’s work
You can view writings by Liu Xia and watch a video of her reading her poetry here.
Write to the authorities
Please send appeals:
- Expressing concern for the health and well-being of poet and artist Liu Xia;
- Calling for the immediate and unconditional release from extra-judicial house arrest of the poet and artist Liu Xia, and calling for all restrictions on her freedom of movement and expression to be lifted;
- Urging the authorities to allow Liu Xia to leave the country;
- Calling for Liu Xia to be granted access to all necessary medical care;
- Urging the authorities to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which provides for freedom of legitimate expression, and freedom of movement and reminding them that as a signatory to the ICCPR China is obliged to ‘refrain from acts that would defeat or undermine the treaty’s objective and purpose.’
His Excellency Xi Jinping
President of the People’s Republic of China
State Council
Beijing 100032
P.R. China
Fax: +86 10 6238 1025
Salutation: Your Excellency
PEN strongly recommends that you also send or, if possible, personally deliver the appeal to the Chinese embassy in your country asking them to forward it to the Chinese authorities and welcoming any comments. Most embassies are obliged to forward such appeals to the relevant officials in the country. You can find the contact details of the Chinese embassy in your country here.
Please keep us informed of any action you take, including any responses you receive from the authorities, via the comments box or by emailing [email protected]