Gao Zhisheng
Gao Zhisheng, one of China’s foremost human rights lawyers, has done pro bono work for forcibly evicted homeowners, members of the Falungong religious sect, underground Christians, fellow lawyers and democracy activists. On August 15, 2006, he was arrested and formally charged in September of “inciting subversion of state power,” a state security crime often used against political dissidents. The police denied his lawyer contact with Gao on grounds that the case involved unspecified “state secrets.” On December 22, 2006, Gao was sentenced to three years in prison, with a five-year reprieve, and was deprived of his political rights for one year. According to the court, the reprieve was granted because Gao had cooperated with the investigators and informed on fellow human rights activists—a charge subsequently denied by Gao, who stated that he had only agreed to the authorities’ terms after being subjected to psychological and physical pressure. Gao said the interrogators had threatened to retaliate against his family if he did not cooperate, a menace he took seriously after several violent incidents that had begun in 2005. He was placed under police surveillance after his release, and was reportedly detained again in September 2007.
Case recommended to: British Olympic team
Text source: Human Rights Watch
Image source: Chinese Human Rights Defenders
Author: Olympic Watch | Section: Cases | Print | Send to friend