A petition has been delivered to the Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC, requesting the immediate release of a human-rights attorney kidnapped by communist authorities in February.
Earlier this month, the China Aid Association (CAA) delivered the signatures of more than 100,000 people to the Chinese Embassy, the U.S. State Department, and the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. The petitions call for the release of Gao Zhisheng, who has defended persecuted Christians and others who have been abused by the Chinese government for their beliefs. Katherine Cason with CAA says the only statement released so far by the Chinese government concerning Gao left more questions and few answers for his friends and family. "Why can't the Chinese government give a location? Why can't they update us about his condition? Why can't his family know anything about his condition or whereabouts?" she wonders. "It was a statement that really avoided the truth of the situation and responsibility for Gao Zhisheng's disappearance -- because he was last seen being hauled away by more than a dozen Chinese state security agents." According to CAA, sources inside China report Gao is undergoing severe torture. Recently, more than 18 human-rights lawyers in China have not been allowed to renew their licenses. Some have been arrested, beaten, and tortured for their legal defense work. CAA states it plans to continue the petitions on behalf of Gao, and urges concerned individuals to "persist in pressuring" the Beijing government for his release.
Earlier this month, the China Aid Association (CAA) delivered the signatures of more than 100,000 people to the Chinese Embassy, the U.S. State Department, and the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. The petitions call for the release of Gao Zhisheng, who has defended persecuted Christians and others who have been abused by the Chinese government for their beliefs. Katherine Cason with CAA says the only statement released so far by the Chinese government concerning Gao left more questions and few answers for his friends and family. "Why can't the Chinese government give a location? Why can't they update us about his condition? Why can't his family know anything about his condition or whereabouts?" she wonders. "It was a statement that really avoided the truth of the situation and responsibility for Gao Zhisheng's disappearance -- because he was last seen being hauled away by more than a dozen Chinese state security agents."
According to CAA, sources inside China report Gao is undergoing severe torture. Recently, more than 18 human-rights lawyers in China have not been allowed to renew their licenses. Some have been arrested, beaten, and tortured for their legal defense work.
CAA states it plans to continue the petitions on behalf of Gao, and urges concerned individuals to "persist in pressuring" the Beijing government for his release.
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