Voorzitter Europarlement herdenkt verdwijning Chinese mensenrechtenactivist (en)

European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek i made the following statement on the 5th anniversary of the arrest of the Chinese human rights lawyer and dissident Gao Zhizheng:

"Five years ago, Gao Zhizheng disappeared for the first time from public. He was detained by Chinese authorities who convicted him of 'subversion'. Ever since then, he went through a nightmare because of his courageous commitment to human rights, especially those of religious minorities.

I am very much concerned that over a year ago, Gao disappeared again. We have still no credible information about his whereabouts. The accounts of torture he made earlier let me assume the worst.

I call upon the Chinese authorities to comply with the most basic international standards and release Gao Zhisheng who has been subject to unacceptable treatment, including detention without any contact with his family."

Note to editors:

Gao Zhizheng first disappeared on 15 August 2006. He was officially arrested more than a month later, convicted and later released. On 20 April 2010, Gao Zhizheng disappeared again. His wife and his friends have still no information about his whereabouts and his condition.