Hu Jia: Prominent Chinese writer silenced by prison sentence
Posted on: 15/04/08

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Hu Jia is one of China’s best-known environment and HIV/AIDS activists. He is a founder of a prominent HIV organization in China, and was involved in a campaign to protect Tibet’s Antelope. Since 2004 Hu Jia has been arbitrarily detained several times. In 2006 he was held incommunicado for 41 days, believed to be on account of his campaigning activities in support of the release of blind human rights legal adviser Chen Guangcheng.

Following his release from incommunicado detention in late March 2006, Hu Jia was held under near-continuous house arrest until his detention in December 2007. His wife, Zeng Jinyan - who became famous worldwide for the blog she maintained while her husband was held incommunicado - was kept under house arrest at the same time. Although her blog is blocked in China, Zeng continued to update her blog up using other methods until her internet connection was cut off.

Zeng and Hu regularly informed overseas journalists and human rights organizations of human rights abuses taking place in China, and provided news of human rights defenders imprisoned or harassed by the authorities.

Two days after the birth of the couple's daughter, Zeng was placed under house arrest, although some friends were allowed to visit. In November, Hu Jia spoke, by webcam, to a European Union parliamentary hearing in Brussels, saying that China had failed to fulfill its promise to improve human rights in the run-up to the Olympics.

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The story of Hu Jia’s arrest

Around 30 plain clothes police officers from the internal security department of the Beijing Public Security Bureau broke into Hu Jia and Zeng Jinyan's home at around 3pm on  December 27th. They surrounded the couple and Zeng Jinyan’s mother who had come to help take care of their baby. Hu Jia was taken away by several police. More than 10 police remained monitoring Zeng Jinyan, with some stationed inside her home until December 31st. Police warned her not to contact anyone, and said if she did not “cooperate” she could also be detained, resulting in a “bad effect” on her baby. 

Hu Jia was formally charged on January 28, 2008. In custody awaiting trial, he was denied access to his lawyers and his family. He was also denied medical treatment, including the daily medication he needs to combat Hepatitis B.

Hu Jia had been kept under house arrest for months before he was formally detained. Despite intrusive surveillance, Hu Jia and Zeng Jinyan continued to publicize human rights violations in China.

Then, on April 3rd, Hu Jia was sentenced to imprisonment for 3 years and 6 months, and deprivation of political rights for 1 year for “inciting subversion of state power”.

The authorities appear to have jailed Hu Jia in order to prevent him from continuing with his peaceful human rights activities, and to silence his public criticism of China’s human rights record ahead of the Beijing Olympics.

Amnesty International considers Hu Jia a prisoner of conscience, jailed solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression.

Zeng Jinyan, and her new-born daughter are still under house arrest. Their telephone line and internet connection have been cut.

Amnesty’s Concerns in China

Stop using the death penalty.
Significantly reduce the use of the death penalty, as a step towards full abolition.

Ensure fair trials.
Ensure that trial and detention take place within international law, and stop the use of torture.

Respect the rights of human rights activists.
Ensure that human rights activists are free to carry out their peaceful activities – without harassment, intimidation or imprisonment.

Ensure internet freedom.
Ensure unrestricted, legitimate access to the internet across China, in accordance with international standards

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