Source: Amnesty International –
Ahead of the 10-year anniversary of the disappearance of Swedish bookseller Gui Minhai, who is currently imprisoned in an unknown location in China on unsubstantiated “spying” charges, Amnesty International’s China Director Sarah Brooks said:
“Ten years after Gui Minhai’s disappearance, his case stands as a chilling warning to anyone who dares to write or publish ideas that fall foul of the government’s censorship machine.
“Gui’s abduction, prosecutions and convictions violate every principle of international law. His case is not an isolated injustice, but an early example of a deliberate pattern of repression that seeks to silence dissent and that doesn’t hesitate to reach beyond China’s borders to do so.
“Governments, in particular Sweden, other EU Member States and the EU itself, must not allow Gui Minhai to be forgotten. They should continue to publicly and consistently demand his release, exerting leverage through all tools at their disposal to urge the Chinese authorities to disclose his whereabouts and ensure consular access and the full protection of his rights.
“For a decade, China has kept Gui Minhai hidden from the world and, worse, those who love him — denying him regular access to his relatives, lawyers, and independent medical care. This cruel secrecy must end. Gui Minhai must be released immediately and unconditionally.”