Chinese human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng has been released today and is now with his brother Gao Zhiyi, according to unconfirmed reports.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
In July, Shaya Prison, where Gao was being held, informed Gao\u2019s brother that he would be released on 7 August, but did not provide any further information. Reports on social media suggest that Gao has been released on time and has been collected by his brother. However, it is not clear whether there are any conditions on his release and whether he will be subject to further restrictions on his freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gao Zhisheng is a prominent Christian human rights lawyer who is best known for his work defending Falun Gong adherents, Christians, and other persecuted social groups. As a result, the government shut down his law firm and revoked his lawyer\u2019s license.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In August 2006, Gao was illegally detained by the police, and on 22 December 2006, he was sentenced to three years in prison with a probation period of five years, on the charge of \u201cinciting to subvert the state power.\u201d During his probation he was forcibly disappeared six times and severely tortured in detention. In April 2010, Gao disappeared again while visiting his in-laws in Xinjiang. On 16 December 2011, the Chinese news agency Xinhua reported that Gao had violated the terms of his probation and had been returned to prison for three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite repeated requests for visits by his brother, Gao\u2019s relatives were allowed to see him just twice in three years, in March 2012 and January 2013. Gao\u2019s wife, Geng He, has asylum in the US where she lives with their two children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CSW\u2019s Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said, \u201cWe welcome reports that rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng has been released and reunited with his brother. Gao Zhisheng, sometimes called \u2018the conscience of China\u2019, has been through years of imprisonment, torture and enforced disappearance. We call on the Chinese government to grant Gao his full freedom, without any further conditions or restrictions on him or his family in China.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For further information or to arrange interviews please contact Kiri Kankhwende, Press Officer at Christian Solidarity Worldwide on +44 (0)20 8329 0045 \/ +44 (0) 78 2332 9663, email kiri@csw.org.uk or visit www.csw.org.uk.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is a Christian organisation working for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights, in the pursuit of justice.<\/b><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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