China: blind forced abortion opponent needs your help

Chen Guangcheng

Blind activist Chen Guangcheng's health is in serious jeopardy because of repeated beatings and malnutrition he suffers in house detention. Women's Rights Without Frontiers and China Aid Association called today for urgent action to free Chen and his family. Women's Rights Without Frontiers released a video demanding freedom for Chen and his family. www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpVJidDqVJo

Reggie Littlejohn, President of Women's Rights Without Frontiers, stated: "Chen's wife sounded the alarm in a letter recently smuggled out of China. She said that Chen's health is very fragile and worsening every day because of beatings, malnutrition and an intestinal illness. She is worried about his survival. Chen sacrificed everything to tell the world the brutal truth about forced abortion in China. He is a warrior for women's rights. Now it's our turn to sacrifice on behalf of Chen by fighting for his freedom."

Bob Fu, President of China Aid, said: "The abuse of Chen Guangcheng is unconscionable and contrary to the rule of law. His mistreatment under house arrest is deplorable, including beatings, constant surveillance, as well as confiscation of his computer, cell phone, books, his blind cane and the toys of his young daughter."

The two organizations are partnering to spearhead an initiative to free Chen and his family. They call upon the international diplomatic community to make official interventions on behalf of Chen with the Chinese government. They also call upon individuals to write Chinese embassies and consulates around the world and sign the petition to Free Chen Guangcheng at: www.womensrightswithoutfrontiers.org/index.php?nav=chen-guangcheng#petition

Chen Guangcheng was arrested in 2006 for exposing evidence that 130,000 forced abortions and involuntary sterilizations were performed on women in Linyi County, Shandong Province in a single year. Time Magazine named him one of "2006's Top 100 People Who Shape Our World" and he was given the 2007 Magsaysay award, known as Asia's Nobel Peace Prize.

Chen spent four years, three months in prison. Since his September 2010 release, he continues to serve a sentence of home detention. Both in prison and under house arrest, Chen has experienced mistreatment and beatings. He and his wife and daughter are not allowed sufficient food and are isolated from all outside contact.

To read the letter from Chen's wife, click here: www.womensrightswithoutfrontiers.org/index.php?nav=yuan-weijing