China: Hu Jia released, but still not free

  ACTION TYPE     EMAIL  

Hu Jia, one of China’s most prominent human rights defenders, was released from prison at the end of his sentence on Sunday 26 June. He had been sentenced in April 2008 to three and a half years in prison, convicted on charges of ‘subversion’ for speaking out about the Chinese authorities’ human rights record.

According to his wife Zeng Jinyan, he is now held in conditions “equivalent to house arrest” following his release. This is in keeping with the trend over the past few years of the Chinese government putting people under illegal house arrest after they have come out of prison - essentially extending their detention in direct violation of international standards.

Zeng Jinyan is trying to arrange for him to be allowed to visit a doctor for an independent medical check-up. Since Hu Jia’s arrest, the authorities have not let Zeng Jinyan live in peace and right before his release, she came under intense pressure to move out of the family home. Read background information

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