“The United States is deeply concerned that Liu Hui, the brother-in-law of Nobel laureate and imprisoned activist Liu Xiaobo, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for purportedly engaging in fraud related to a disputed land deal,” Ms. Jen Psaki, the Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, said recently in a press statement issued in Washington DC.
Liu Xiaobo, writer, professor, and human rights activist, was detained on December 8, 2008, for his role in drafting Charter 08 a document that called for democratic reforms, human rights, and an end to one party rule in China.
Over a year later, on December 23, 2009, Liu was convicted of “inciting subversion of state power” and sentenced to eleven years' imprisonment and two years' deprivation of political rights. Liu is currently incarcerated in Jinzhou, Liaoning.
In 2010, Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for "his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China." Liu was represented by an empty chair during the ceremony. His wife, Liu Xia, has been under extralegal house arrest since the award announcement.
“In May, 2011, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention determined the arrest and imprisonment of Liu Xiaobo and the extralegal house arrest of his wife Liu Xia to be in contravention of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” Ms. Jen Psaki said.
“We urge Chinese authorities to release Liu Xiaobo, as well as his wife Liu Xia, immediately and to guarantee Liu Xiaobo and his family members the protections and freedoms to which they are entitled under China’s international human rights obligations and commitments. As President Obama told President Xi in California last week, history shows that upholding universal rights is ultimately a key to success, prosperity, and justice for all nations.”
Liu Xiaobo, writer, professor, and human rights activist, was detained on December 8, 2008, for his role in drafting Charter 08 a document that called for democratic reforms, human rights, and an end to one party rule in China.
Over a year later, on December 23, 2009, Liu was convicted of “inciting subversion of state power” and sentenced to eleven years' imprisonment and two years' deprivation of political rights. Liu is currently incarcerated in Jinzhou, Liaoning.
In 2010, Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for "his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China." Liu was represented by an empty chair during the ceremony. His wife, Liu Xia, has been under extralegal house arrest since the award announcement.
“In May, 2011, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention determined the arrest and imprisonment of Liu Xiaobo and the extralegal house arrest of his wife Liu Xia to be in contravention of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” Ms. Jen Psaki said.
“We urge Chinese authorities to release Liu Xiaobo, as well as his wife Liu Xia, immediately and to guarantee Liu Xiaobo and his family members the protections and freedoms to which they are entitled under China’s international human rights obligations and commitments. As President Obama told President Xi in California last week, history shows that upholding universal rights is ultimately a key to success, prosperity, and justice for all nations.”
