Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Appeal From Amnesty International Concerning Liu Xiaobo

From Amnesty International:

Liu Xiaobo won the Nobel Peace Prize by risking everything to speak out for freedom and human rights in China. Now he needs your voice.


Demand that China free Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo.











Dear Christopher,



China expressed outrage last week over the Nobel committee’s decision to award its prestigious Peace Prize to incarcerated Chinese human rights activist Liu Xiaobo. But the real outrage is China’s treatment of those who dare to speak truth to power.



We couldn’t be more thrilled for Liu and the spotlight the award places on his unrelenting fight for fundamental freedoms and human rights in China. But Liu won’t be able to celebrate his win with the rest of the world from the confines of his prison cell.



Adding insult to injury, Chinese authorities have placed Liu’s wife Liu Xia under house arrest, likely preventing her from receiving the award in Norway on Liu’s behalf. They’ve also cracked down on activists celebrating Liu’s achievement. Liu Xiaobo needs your help.



Demand that China free Liu Xiaobo.





Liu, a 54-year old author and scholar, is a prominent government critic who has repeatedly called for human rights protections, political accountability and democratization in China.



In 2009 Liu was charged with "inciting subversion of state power" and given an 11-year prison sentence after an unfair trial for co-authoring a proposal for political and legal reform in China.



Amnesty International has long called for Liu’s release. We need your help now more than ever to send a loud and clear plea for Liu’s release.



Urge Chinese authorities to release Liu Xiaobo immediately.



This award can only make a real difference if it prompts more international pressure on China to release Liu, along with the numerous other prisoners of conscience languishing in Chinese jails for exercising their right to freedom of expression. Now is the time to act.



Liu is counting on us.



Michael O’Reilly

Individuals at Risk Campaign Director

Amnesty International USA

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