Press release July 12, 2017
China: Death of Liu Shows Reach of Repression
Freedom House issued the following statement in response to the death of 61-year old Liu Xiaobo, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010 while he was imprisoned and silenced by the Chinese government.
Washington
In response to the death of 61-year old Liu Xiaobo, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010 while he was imprisoned and silenced by the Chinese government for his advocacy of democracy, Freedom House issued the following statement:
“The death of Liu represents a new low in the Chinese government’s repression and utter disregard for the health and life of political and religious prisoners in China,” said Michael J. Abramowitz, president of Freedom House. “Authorities silenced him in prison, denied him urgently needed medical care, and continue to hold his wife prisoner, all hallmarks of an authoritarian state with no respect for the rights of citizens and with intolerance of political dissent. China’s government worked without pity to silence Liu but it cannot stop millions of Chinese people who continue to take action towards securing fundamental human freedoms.”
China is rated Not Free in Freedom in the World 2017, Not Free in Freedom of the Press 2017, and Not Free in Freedom on the Net 2016. Freedom House has documented trends of tightening censorship and repression in China in the China Media Bulletin and The Battle for China's Spirit.