Freedom House

Gao, 71, has been incarcerated since her apprehension in April 2014 for allegedly leaking an internal Chinese Communist Party document disparaging human rights. She suffers from chronic heart pain, high blood pressure, and other diseases.

The undersigned organizations denounce the continued attacks on and threats to journalists, media workers and human rights defenders, most recently the incidents in which human rights defender Pierre Claver Mbonimpa survived an attempt on his life, while journalist Esdras Ndikumana was the victim of a brutal attack by police and intelligence officials.

Over the past two years, the Chinese authorities have taken new steps to block Chinese citizens’ access to information from U.S. companies and media. These actions not only limit Chinese citizens’ access to news and entertainment, but they also harm U.S. businesses, media outlets, and innovators.

“There is horrible irony in having authorities use trumped up charges to go after a group whose mission is to strengthen Russian democracy and rule of law.”

Under the Law on Public Security, declining to identify oneself to the authorities, failing to obey orders to disperse, and disseminating unauthorized images of law enforcement personnel can carry penalties of up to €30,000.

The net neutrality debate that captured the attention of internet users in the U.S. and turned them into digital advocates has now reached the world’s largest democracy.

“It is inhumane and cruel for Azerbaijani authorities to deny medical care to Aliyev, a human rights lawyer who was sentenced on trumped-up charges and while in prison has developed a spine condition that prevents him from normal movement and causes him tremendous pain.”

“It is disturbingly ironic that this attack targeted an event aimed at drawing attention to violence and discrimination against LGBTI people, and underscores the urgent need for governments, civil society, religious communities, and others to aggressively combat discrimination…”