21 February 2008

Alert

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


Incident details

Hu Jia

human rights worker(s)

detained

This is available in:

English Français
(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


Fax:+33 1 45 23 11 51

More on this case

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 Police step up surveillance of jailed human rights activist's family 21 February 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

At a glance

China

See more

China
 
More from China
  • Freedom on the Net 2018: China

    The level of internet freedom declined due to the new cybersecurity law which strengthened repressive restrictions on online activities.

    Freedom House 1 November 2018

  • Forbidden Feeds: Government Controls on Social Media in China.

    Based on extensive interviews with writers, poets, artists, activists, and others personally affected by the government’s grip on online expression, as well as interviews with anonymous employees at Chinese social media companies, the report lays bare the destructive impact of the Chinese government’s vision of “cyber sovereignty” on netizens who dare to dissent.

    PEN American Center 13 March 2018

  • Ten-Year Edition: A Decade of Decline

    The general trend over the past 10 years has been bleak, with an overall negative trajectory for press freedom. The major turning point was the election of Xi Jinping as General Secretary of the Communist Party of China in 2012 and President of China in 2013.

    International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) 2 February 2018

At a glance

Asia & Pacific

See more

Asia & Pacific

IFEX members working in this region 24

See list

 
More from Asia & Pacific
  • TRUTH VS MISINFORMATION: THE COLLECTIVE PUSH BACK

    SOUTH ASIA PRESS FREEDOM REPORT 2018-2019

    International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) 3 May 2019

  • The Campaign for Justice: Press Freedom in South Asia 2013-14

    Journalism in South Asia is far from an easy profession, as the 12th annual review of journalism in the region "The Campaign for Justice: Press Freedom in South Asia 2013-14" portrays. But this year's report also tells the story of the courage of South Asia's journalists to defend press freedom and to ensure citizens' right to information and freedom of expression in the face of increasing challenges to the profession and personal safety.

    International Federation of Journalists 3 May 2014

  • THE STORIES WOMEN JOURNALISTS TELL: Women in Media in South Asia

    The report is the first created by the South Asia Media Solidarity Network (SAMSN) looking specifically at the experience of women journalists in the South Asia sub-region

    International Federation of Journalists 13 March 2014