Thank you for speaking out for Gao Zhisheng
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We'd like to share with you a few words from Gao's wife, Geng He, who has asked us not to give up on him:
"As a committed Human Rights Defender, my husband has never given up on fighting for the rights and freedom of others. In the same way, I will never give up on him. Neither will Amnesty International. And neither, I hope will you."
- Geng He, wife of human rights defender, Gao Zhisheng
You know we're not giving up on Gao. In fact, Amnesty International members in 80 countries gathered last Monday, International Human Rights Day, to write letters on behalf of Gao, urging the Chinese authorities to set him free.
It's important that we defend people like Gao, because when Human Rights Defenders like him are targeted by his own government, you know that others are suffering.
Not so long ago, Gao Zhisheng was named among China’s top ten lawyers and celebrated by the government. However, as he became increasingly outspoken about human rights abuses in the country, the authorities tried to silence him.
First they revoked his licence, then they closed his law practice, and on August 22nd, 2006 Gao was taken away by police for the first time. In all, he has been abducted three times and has spent 36 months in detention. The second time, he was tortured relentlessly.
"His guards beat him with electric batons, shone lamps in his eyes, chained him to an iron chair, and burnt his dear face and body with cigarettes. They blew smoke in his eyes for hour after hour until they were so swollen he could no longer see" -Gao's wife, Geng He
Yet Gao refused to be broken. So the authorities turned their attention to his wife and children.They cut off the water supply to their home and blocked them from leaving the house, denying them food or water for 36 hours.
"Tianyu, my little son, was just three years old and I will never forget his tears and pain as the hunger set in... my heart was twisted like a piece of dough" - Geng He
When the torturers told Gao Zhisheng of his family’s suffering, it was more than he could bear. He signed a confession and was released. Yet even then the harassment continued, and in February 2009 the police took Gao Zhisheng away again. His family have not seen him since.
At Amnesty, we're doing all we can to free Gao Zhisheng.
We're monitoring and reporting on his case so the world knows about him. We’re lobbying the United Nations and national governments to speak out on China’s human rights record, and we're collecting thousands of messages calling on the Chinese premier to release Gao Zhisheng immediately.
However, we need your support – not just to help Gao, but for everyone who has ever risked their life to defend human rights.
As 2012 closes, I'd like to thank you for being one of our cherished activists. It's your willingness to speak out for others that helps make our collective voice heard.
Please consider joining us in 2013 as a monthly donor to help us stand with human rights defenders like Gao Zhisheng.
Together there's a chance we can with Gao Zhisheng's freedom.
Yours Sincerely,
Alex Neve, Secretary General
Amnesty International Canada
Thank you for speaking out for Gao. If you're not already a regular supporter of Amnesty International, please join us now and help us stand behind those who put their life at risk to protect the human rights of others.
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