ASA 17/007/2006
Further Information on UA 280/04 (ASA 17/051/2004, 6 October 2004) and follow-ups (ASA 17/057/2004, 24 November 2004 ; ASA 17/001/2005, 6 January 2005 ; ASA 17/32/2005, 29 September 2005 ; ASA 17/004/2006, 27 January 2006) -
Fear of torture and ill-treatment
CHINA : Mao Hengfeng (f)
and Wu Xuewei (m), her husband
09 February 2006
Human rights activist Mao Hengfeng was released from custody on 8 February.
Mao Hengfeng and her daughter were taken into custody in Beijing on 24 January 2006. Police officers took them on the train back to their home city of Shanghai, where they released her daughter.
For the last 16 days Mao Hengfeng had been held in a hotel room in the district of Shanghai where she lives. She was under constant guard by a total of 18 Shanghai Public Security Bureau officers working in shifts. She was verbally abused at the beginning of her period of detention, but she was not tortured.
Mao Hengfeng and AI thank all those who sent letters on her behalf. There is no need for further action at this time.