July 12, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A blind Chinese lawyer and top pro-life advocate’s health is in serious jeopardy because of repeated beatings and malnutrition he suffers in house detention, and human rights organizations are saying enough is enough.
Women’s Rights Without Frontiers and China Aid Association today called for urgent action to free Chen and his family, with the former group releasing a video about the situation.
The wife of activist Chen Guangcheng revealed in a chilling letter earlier this month the extent of the abuse suffered by the couple at the hands of Chinese government officials, who are punishing Chen for defending victims of government-sanctioned coerced abortions and sterilizations.
“I saw more than ten men surrounded Chen Guangcheng, torturing him,” wrote Chen’s wife, Yuan. “My husband and I were wounded severely, yet not allowed to leave home for any medical aid.”
Yuan said her husband’s health is now in jeopardy.
Chen has been under house arrest since October, when he was released after four years of imprisonment, in frail health from routine beatings.
Reggie Littlejohn, President of Women’s Rights Without Frontiers, re-echoed the pleading of Chen’s wife.
“Chen sacrificed everything to tell the world the brutal truth about forced abortion in China. He is a warrior for women’s rights,” said Littlejohn. “Now it’s our turn to sacrifice on behalf of Chen by fighting for his freedom.”
Bob Fu, President of China Aid, stated, “The abuse of Chen Guangcheng is unconscionable and contrary to the rule of law. His mistreatment under house arrest is deplorable, including beatings, constant surveillance, as well as confiscation of his computer, cell phone, books, his blind cane and the toys of his young daughter.”
The two organizations are partnering to spearhead an initiative to free Chen and his family, and are calling upon the international diplomatic community to make official interventions on behalf of Chen with the Chinese government.
They are also asking citizens to write Chinese embassies and consulates around the world and sign the Free Chen Guangcheng petition.
Chen Guangcheng was arrested in 2006 for exposing evidence that 130,000 forced abortions and involuntary sterilizations were performed on women in Linyi County, Shandong Province in a single year. Time Magazine named him one of “2006’s Top 100 People Who Shape Our World” and he was given the 2007 Magsaysay award, known as Asia’s Nobel Peace Prize.
Click here to read the letter by Chen’s wife.
Contact information:
Chinese Embassy in the USA
Tel: (202) 495-2266
Cell: (202) 669-8024 (For Emergency Only)
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Washington, D.C. 20008
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Chinese Embassy in Canada
515 St. Patrick Street, Ottawa, Ont. K1N 5H3
Tel: 613-7893434 Fax: 613-7891911
Website: https://ca.chineseembassy.org
E-mail Address: [email protected]
Chinese Embassy in Ireland
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Ballsbridge,
Dublin 4,
Ireland
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Fax:00353-1-2839938
Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom
49 Portland Place , London W1B 1JL
Tel:020-72994074
Fax:020-76362981
Email:[email protected]