Ai Weiwei’s Wife Speaks Out Against Secret Detentions
Created: Sep 29 2011
Related articles: China
The wife of Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has written a letter to the legal working committee of China's National People’s Congress. Lu Qing is urging them to reject proposed changes to the criminal procedure law. The changes would legalize holding suspects in secret locations for up to six months—in some cases without informing their families.
Lu’s letter was sent by courier and also published on Ai Weiwei’s Google Plus account.
Lu writes: “When a citizen is taken away by the police, notifying the family is the most basic respect for citizens’ rights.”
Police arrested Ai Weiwei at the Beijing airport on April 3rd. Ai was then held in a secret location for 81 days. Lu describes in the letter the frantic search for Ai by family and friends. The family had not been notified of his whereabouts.
The incident sparked an international outcry. Ai Weiwei was eventually released, but is still under investigation for alleged tax evasion. He’s officially banned from speaking to the media.
Lu’s letter was sent by courier and also published on Ai Weiwei’s Google Plus account.
Lu writes: “When a citizen is taken away by the police, notifying the family is the most basic respect for citizens’ rights.”
Police arrested Ai Weiwei at the Beijing airport on April 3rd. Ai was then held in a secret location for 81 days. Lu describes in the letter the frantic search for Ai by family and friends. The family had not been notified of his whereabouts.
The incident sparked an international outcry. Ai Weiwei was eventually released, but is still under investigation for alleged tax evasion. He’s officially banned from speaking to the media.
