2018 China: Liu Xia
WORLD POETRY DAY 2018: Liu Xia is a poet, artist, and founding member of the Independent Chinese PEN Centre. Xia has been held under unofficial house arrest in her Beijing apartment since her late husband, the poet Liu Xiaobo, was named the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2010. PEN International believes that the ongoing, extra-judicial house arrest of Liu Xia is a form of punishment for the human rights work carried out by her husband, Liu Xiaobo, and is extremely concerned for her physical and psychological integrity. Norwegian PEN’s Writers in Prison Committee calls for the immediate and unconditional release from extra-judicial house arrest of the poet and artist Liu Xia, and for all restrictions on her freedom of movement and expression to be lifted.
His Excellency Xi Jinping
President of the People’s Republic of China
State Council Beijing 100032
P.R. China
Oslo, 21.03.18
Your Excellency,
Today, on World Poetry Day, our thoughts are with poet Liu Xia who has been held in unofficial house arrest during her husbands long imprisonment, and after his death still lives under strong surveillance. There are reports that Liu Xia’s mental and physical health continue to suffer due to her detention. PEN International believes that the ongoing, extra-judicial house arrest of Liu Xia is a form of punishment for the human rights work carried out by her husband, Liu Xiaobo, and is extremely concerned for her physical and psychological integrity.
Together with our PEN colleagues worldwide we call for the immediate and unconditional release from extra-judicial house arrest of the poet and artist Liu Xia, and call for all restrictions on her freedom of movement and expression to be lifted. Liu Xia should be granted access to all necessary medical care.
We urge Chinese authorities to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which provides for freedom of legitimate expression, and freedom of movement and reminding them that as a signatory to the ICCPR China is obliged to ‘refrain from acts that would defeat or undermine the treaty’s objective and purpose.
Yours sincerely,
Ms Brit Bildøen
Chair of Writers in Prison Committee
Norwegian PEN
COPY:
The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Chinese Embassy of Norway
