PEN International protests the 10-year sentence handed down to dissident writer and activist Liu Xianbin on March 25, 2011, for “inciting subversion of state power” in connection with his publication of a series of articles calling for political reform. The trial reportedly did not comply with international standards of fairness. PEN reminds the Chinese authorities of their obligations to uphold the right to freedom of expression, freedom of information, and freedom of assembly as guaranteed by Article 35 of the Chinese constitution and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which China is a state party. PEN calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all those detained for the peaceful expression of their views, including Liu Xianbin, and seeks urgent guarantees of their safety while detained without due process.

Background Information

According to PEN’s information, 43-year-old Sichuan-based freelance writer and activist Liu Xianbin was detained on June 28, 2010, and charged with "inciting subversion of state power." He was indicted on November 11, 2010. According to the verdict of the Suining Intermediate People’s Court, where he was tried on March 25, 2011, Liu’s conviction is based on a number of articles published on overseas Chinese-language web sites from August 2009 to June 2010. He is currently detained at the Suining City Detention Center, Sichuan Province.

Liu Xianbin previously served nine years of a 13-year prison sentence from 1999 to 2008 for his part in organizing the Sichuan branch of the outlawed China Democratic Party. After his release in November 2008 he became one of the first signatories of Charter 08. The harsh 10-year sentence comes as police are stepping up their harassment of human rights defenders and activists across the country, apparently in response to anonymous calls for "Jasmine Revolution" protests. Since mid-February 2011, dozens have been briefly detained, harassed, summoned, or placed under house arrest, and at least five prominent rights activists and dissidents have been criminally detained for allegedly "endangering state security" and now face charges of "inciting subversion" or "subversion of state power." They include writer Ran Yunfei, prominent "weiquan" or "rights protection" lawyer Teng Biao, and webmaster and Network Coordinator of the Independent Chinese PEN Center Wu Wei (aka Ye Du), all members of the Independent Chinese PEN Center.

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Write A Letter

  • Protesting the harsh sentence handed down to dissident writer Liu Xianbin solely for the peaceful exercise of his right to free expression;
  • Expressing alarm at the recent crackdown on dissent in which writers, journalists and human rights defenders are among those targeted;
  • Reminding Chinese authorities of their obligations under Article 35 of the Chinese constitution and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which it is a state party;
  • Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all those currently detained in China for the peaceful exercise of their right to free expression, including Liu Xianbin.

Send Your Letter To

His Excellency Hu Jintao
President of the People’s Republic of China
State Council
Beijing 100032
P.R. China

MA Zhenchuan Juzhang
Director of the Beijing Public Security Bureau
Beijingshi Gong'anju
9 Dongdajie, Qianmen
Dongchengqu
Beijingshi 100740
People's Republic of China
Fax: +86 1065242927

WU Aiying Buzhang
Minister of Justice
Sifabu
10 Chaoyangmen Nandajie
Chaoyangqu
Beijingshi 100020
People's Republic of China

Mr. Meng Jianzhu
Minister of Public Security
East Chang'an Avenue 14
100741 Beijing
People's Republic of China

Please copy appeals to the diplomatic representative for China in your country if possible.

Please contact PEN if sending appeals after April 30, 2011: ftw [at] pen.org